Joni Sheets Nancy Larson Foundation Scholar
Manhattan, KS (January 30, 2019) – Kansas State University student Joni Sheets has been named a Nancy Larson Foundation Scholar and awarded a $1000 scholarship in recognition of her personal narrative, passion for teaching, and academic achievement.
The Nancy Larson Foundation proudly supports students across the country majoring in elementary education by awarding scholarships to deserving students each year. Sheets is one of ten recipients selected from the many applications received by the Foundation.
Ever since Joni was in the second grade she has wanted to be a teacher. Joni explained, “To be a great teacher, you must form strong connections with your students before you can focus on the content you want to teach them. If you do not establish that connection, then it will be really hard for the students to trust you and want to learn from you. My teachers were more than just adults I saw only in school. They were people who truly cared about me as an individual and my success inside and outside of school.”
Nancy Larson remarked, “Joni’s enthusiasm truly resonated with the selection committee. She told us that her experiences tutoring students solidified her decision of becoming an educator and made her realize she had chosen the right career path.”
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. Nancy Larson Science K–5 programs were developed because teachers needed a classroom-tested science program that would prepare children for upper-level science classes and careers in science. The program was written to provide in-depth science content in an easy-to-teach format.