UTPA Student named Nancy Larson Foundation Scholar – Scholarship awarded for studying elementary education
Edith Ovalle
Edith Ovalle is studying bilingual education and was motivated to pursue her career after struggling herself as a bilingual student. She was inspired by a fourth-grade teacher who taught her to always remind herself in times of struggle that “Education is the key to success!” “My teacher was my role model, and she will always be in my heart,” said Ovalle. “Her words made me realize that education was the only way I was going to be successful in life.”
She has maintained a 3.8 GPA; is active in community service and several school clubs, including Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society; and graduated in the top 10% of her class. In the classroom she is known for her patience with students and for encouraging each of them to achieve their very best.
“Edith really impressed us with her personal story about her experiences as a bilingual student and how that inspired her to want to become a teacher to help other bilingual students. We know it is very important to have more bilingual teachers who understand the experiences of bilingual students,” said Nancy Larson.
The Nancy Larson Foundation proudly supports students across the country majoring in elementary education by awarding scholarships to deserving students each year.
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.