Foundation awards scholarships to college students preparing to be elementary educators
Old Lyme, CT. (February 10, 2016) – Nine scholars have been chosen from nationwide applicants of aspiring teachers to be Nancy Larson Foundation Scholars. These exceptional future teachers have each been awarded a $1,000 scholarship in recognition of their outstanding personal narratives, academic achievements and community service.
The Nancy Larson Foundation Scholarships are open to students across the nation majoring in elementary education. Each year the Foundation awards scholarships to students who exemplify the highest commitment to academic achievement in education and community service work with children.
The Nancy Larson Foundation is proud to introduce this year’s winners, selected from many deserving applicants. The Nancy Larson Foundation Scholars for 2015 are:
- Ivan Tiet — California State University, Sacramento
- Rylan Laudan — Kansas State University
- Sahyra Lujan — Kansas State University
- Chyteal Jones — Mercer University
- Symone James — University of Connecticut
- Danny “Marty” Robinson — University of Indianapolis
- Brandon Ishikata — San Diego State University
- LaShuna Anderson — Texas A&M University – Commerce
- Joanna Walters — University of West Florida
“These students represent the type of aspiring teachers that we want to support,” said Foundation founder Nancy Larson. “Our classrooms need intelligent, energetic, young educators who can provide the best possible learning environment for elementary students.” Larson, author of two nationally successful curriculum programs – Nancy Larson® Science and Saxon Math K–4 – launched the Foundation in 2006 to promote the highest standards in teaching.
College-level juniors, seniors and graduate students who have declared an elementary education major are invited to submit a personal narrative about why they want to teach, what personal experiences they have had that inspired them to teach and what qualities will make them excellent teachers. Applicants are also asked to include community service activities and experiences they have had working with children.
Larson, a former teacher and curriculum director, has dedicated her life to advancing elementary education. Her original Saxon Math K–4 program was developed because teachers needed a classroom-tested math program that would prepare children for advanced math classes. In recent years, Larson has used the same approach to develop Nancy Larson Science for kindergarten through fourth-grade students. The program was written to provide in-depth science content in an easy-to-teach format.