Emily Stolfus awarded scholarship
Emily Stolfus
Nancy Larson Foundation Scholar
Manhattan, KS (March 21, 2017 ) – Kansas State University student Emily Stolfus has been named a Nancy Larson Foundation Scholar and awarded a $1000 scholarship in recognition of her 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. Stolfus is one of five recipients selected from the many applications received by the Foundation.
In her personal narrative, Stolfus described why she wants to teach. “Working with children has been a defining part of my life for years. My first experience came in seventh grade when my mother signed me up to assist with teaching Sunday School for kindergarteners. I was immediately hooked! After this I began to diversify my teaching experiences by seeking opportunities in my community and around the globe including some time in Chile and Mexico,” she said.
“I think about how life changing it is to read and where reading can take you. I want to help children experience the beauty and joy of reading so they can be so caught up in a story that the rest of the world disappears. Successful teaching requires flexibility, knowledge and unending amounts of passion. I plan to encourage perseverance through challenging activities and critical thinking. I hope to make a lasting difference with children.”
“Emily has such a love for teaching and for children,” said Nancy Larson. “It is clear to us from her story that she is dedicated to both inspiring and teaching children.”
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 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 fifth-grade students. The program was written to provide in-depth science content in an easy-to-teach format.