Ivan Tiet
Nancy Larson Foundation Scholar
Elementary Education major Ivan Tiet awarded scholarship
Sacramento, CA (February 17, 2016) – California State University – Sacramento student Ivan Tiet has been named a Nancy Larson Foundation Scholar and awarded a $1000 scholarship in recognition of his inspiring personal narrative, excellent academic record and spirit of community service.
The Nancy Larson Foundation proudly supports students across the country majoring in elementary education by awarding scholarships to deserving students each year. Tiet is one of nine recipients selected from the many applications received by the Foundation.
Tiet, born to Vietnamese immigrants, initially learned the dialect Teochew. “English was not my first language and I was often made fun of by other children because of my pronunciation,” he said. “This experience led me to become culturally sensitive and extremely aware of the barriers some of our children face.”
“My unwavering desire to become an elementary teacher stems from my upbringing and my volunteer work with children,” said Tiet. “Through my own personal experiences and in working with youth, I know the challenges children face, whether it be language, culture, poverty, disabilities, bullying, family troubles, and so forth. I want to address whatever issues come up as best I can so my students can achieve their dreams.”
“Ivan’s story is very inspiring. It was clear to the committee that he has a true passion for teaching and connecting with children of all cultures,” said Nancy Larson. “He has a very diverse background, has volunteered tirelessly with many different groups related to helping children and has a lot of life experience to share with children in his classroom.”
Juniors, seniors and graduate students who have declared an elementary education major are invited to submit a personal narrative about about why they want to teach, what personal experiences they have had that inspired them to teach and what 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.
To learn more about the Nancy Larson Foundation, visit http://nancylarsonfoundation.org.
About Nancy Larson Foundation
The Nancy Larson Foundation, founded in 2006 in Old Lyme, CT, has a history of awarding prospective elementary educators scholarships to encourage and support their education. The Nancy Larson Foundation awards scholarships to the top entries. For entry deadlines and requirements, or more information on the Foundation, visit http://nancylarsonfoundation.org.