Your Chicago: Ag High School's Horse Program

(CBS) -- Maggie Kendall, an animal sciences teacher at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, is thinking big -- $100,000 big.

She's hoping to win a grant that will expand her school's therapeutic riding program so that students can ride year round.

CBS 2's Rob Johnson reports.

Kendall loves two things--teaching and horses. She's been combining those two passions as director of the Ag High School's horse program. It has a modest barn and four horses.

"Horses have always been so important in my life," she says.

What would this $100,000 grant provide? It would allow for a state-of-the-art indoor riding facility for everyone in the community to take part. That would be useful on days that are cold, rainy, or even snowy.

Shane Blake has already won a gold medal and top rider award at a recent Special Olympics event. He takes part in the school's therapeutic riding program.

Thanks to the horse program, a real friendship has blossomed between Shane and his buddy, Kambr Kutkowski.

"I've learned that I love kids with special needs and I love horses," Kutkowski says. "Through this I put them together."

Here's how you can help.

Kendall is a finalist for the Dream Big Challenge contest for the $100,000 grant. To win, an application must get the most votes in an online contest; you can vote every day.

--Go to https://www.thankamillionteachers.com/vote-for-a-proposal/vote-for-a-proposal-form-100k/

--Vote daily through Nov. 30 for North Central Finalist Maggie Kendall and Northwest finalist Lynne Erger, who is getting votes through her own network.

--Verify your vote by email.

To be entered into raffle for Blackhawk's tickets, sign up for a daily vote reminder. Text @farmersi to (773) 801-5724.