Horace Mann Announces $25,000 Classroom Makeover Winner and Additional Grant Recipients

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – OCT. 14, 2025 – Horace Mann, the largest multiline financial services company focused on helping America’s educators and others who serve the community achieve lifelong financial success, announced the winners of its 2025 Ready. Set. Inspire. Classroom Makeover Sweepstakes.

Grand Prize Winner

Lotus Elementary School in Spring Grove, Illinois has been awarded a $25,000 classroom makeover and now has the opportunity to outfit a classroom with new furniture and innovative educational materials designed to inspire creativity and support student success.

“This is a big deal for our school,” said Kelly Roland, the Lotus Elementary School teacher who submitted the Ready. Set. Inspire. sweepstakes entry. “I can’t wait to see the plans for our classroom makeover. This is for our whole school and all our students, not just our classroom.”

“We’re proud to recognize Lotus Elementary School as the recipient of our Classroom Makeover Sweepstakes,” said Steve Chauby, Chief Marketing and Distribution Officer at Horace Mann. “This program reflects our commitment to giving back to schools and creating learning environments where educators and students can thrive. By supporting teachers and their classrooms, we’re helping to build stronger communities and inspire lifelong learning.”

Additional Winners

In addition to the grand prize, Horace Mann awarded 20 schools with $1,500 each to be used in creative ways to celebrate and strengthen their school communities, including ice cream trucks for students, appreciation lunches for staff, upgrades to equipment and new classroom materials. In addition, another 50 educators received $250 gift cards each for their back-to-school needs.

Schools that received $1,500 back-to-school celebration grants:

• Sandra G., Stockton, CA — Hamilton Elementary School
• Brian O., Newhall, CA — Placerita Junior High School
• An’drea F., Manchester, CT — Verplanck Elementary School
• Gina H., Clay City, IL — Clay City Junior High School
• Andrea H., Escanaba, MI — Lemmer Elementary School
• Nancy L., Parchment, MI — Parchment High School
• Kris O., Princeton, MN — Princeton High School
• Parenthia G., Fairmont, NC — Rosenwald Elementary School
• Terry M., Gaston, NC — Gaston STEM Leadership Academy
• Tashia D., Battle Creek, NE — St. John’s Lutheran School
• Angelina D., Santa Fe, NM — Pinon Elementary
• Megan F., Pickerington, OH — Ridgeview STEM Junior High School
• Laura G., Duncan Falls, OH — Duncan Falls Elementary School
• Brenda D., Mustang, OK — Mustang Horizon Intermediate Center
• Priscilla C., Lubbock, TX — McWhorter Elementary School
• Kara L., Deer Park, TX — San Jacinto Elementary School
• Nicole R., Garland, TX — Kimberlin Academy
• Breanna S., Richardson, TX — Dartmouth Elementary School
• Tami G., Cottonwood Heights, UT — Butler Middle School
• Barb S., Vienna, VA — Colvin Run Elementary School