Eleven Yavapai County students representing seven different communities each received a $1,900 scholarship from the Education Scholarship Endowment-Yavapai County during a May 6 luncheon at Hassayampa Inn in Prescott.
In all, $20,900 went to winning students.
All 11 anticipate careers in area schools once they complete their degrees, said Robert St. Clair, ESEYC president.
Recipients were praised by Larnell Sawyer, the outgoing 2015 Teacher of the Year for Yavapai County.
Sawyer, a kindergarten teacher at Lincoln School in Prescott, told the winners, “I hope you feel as passionate about teaching as I do. I love teaching. It’s what I was born to do. I hope you feel the same way when you step into your first classroom. “
Earlier last month, Mike Westcott became the 2016 Teacher of the Year.
Recipients were as follows:
From Prescott: Amanda Mikrut, a freshman who will attend Arizona State University; and Emily Thomas, a junior elementary education major at Northern Arizona University.
From Prescott Valley: Nora Graybill, a sophomore elementary education student at Yavapai College.
From Chino Valley: Caleb Boone, a senior elementary education major at Prescott College; Ricky Rodriguez, a sophomore education major at Frank Philips College, Borger, Texas; and Sarah Schuler, a junior education major at Northern Arizona University.
From Cottonwood: Melissa Brooks, junior elementary education major at Northern Arizona University; and Debra Earl, a sophomore elementary education student at Rio Salado College in Phoenix.
From Clarkdale: Angelina Chavez, a junior elementary and special education major at Northern Arizona University.
From Bagdad: Marissa Rottnek, a freshman secondary education and history major at Northern Arizona University.
From Sedona: Haley Holverson, a junior secondary education major at Grand Canyon College.
The scholarships are supported by contributions from individuals, businesses, corporations and charitable organizations. All funds are put into an endowment founded in 2001 by the late Gladys Gardner, a former teacher who became a state legislator and later, a Yavapai County supervisor.
In the 16 years since its founding, the ESEYC has granted almost $250,000 to 139 qualified applicants.
A volunteer board of directors administers the 501(c)3 non-profit foundation. QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
Photo Caption:
Yavapai County students receiving scholarship through the Education Scholarship Endowment-Yavapai County are (top row, l to r) Caleb Boone, Melissa Brooks, Angelina Chavez, Debra Earl, Nora Graybill; (bottom row, l to r) Haley Holverson, Amanda Mikrut, Marissa Rottnek, Sarah Schuler, and Emily Thomas. Not pictured was Ricky Rodriquez.
Photo by Ray Newton
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