Teachers Make a Difference Scholarship Winners

2006 Teachers Make a Difference scholarship winners were announced at the end of the 05-06 school year. They are:

Top row: Laura Bohorquez from Brewster School District and Patricia Limon, Eastmont School District

Second row: Jeanene Russo, Ephrata School District and Malea Kerr, Columbia Basin Secondary School, Moses Lake

The scholarship winners' stories will be included in Teachers Make a Difference V, along with the other scholarship applicants' stories. Copies of the book will be available for sale in December. If you would like to include a story about a teacher who has made a difference in your life, contact Eldene Wall at eldenew@ncesd.org. For more information about this exciting project, see Teachers Make a Difference>>.

In 2005 the "Teachers Make a Difference" scholarship fund was increased so that three deserving students could be assisted as they begin their college careers. Pamela Alvarado from Eastmont School District; Nicole Benoit from Wenatchee High School; and Adeline Estes from Liberty Bell High School in the Methow Valley School District were chosen as Teachers Make a Difference scholarship winners for 2005. These scholarship awards came from the sale of Lighting the Way for Others, a book composed of stories about teachers who had made a difference in the lives of their students. Included in the book were stories written by scholarship applicants last year.

Pamela Alvarado	Nicole Benoit	Adeline Estes

It was difficult to choose the winner from so many outstanding applications, but representatives from North Central ESD and the Community Foundation of North Central Washington screened applications and came up with excellent choices. These students described their passion to become a teacher, and they have also done well in school and activities, and contributed to their community.

Pamela Alvarado, a 2005 graduate of Eastmont High School, was involved in a long list of activities during her school years, including sports, ASB, class government, jazz band, marching band, M.E.Ch.A Club, and Young Life. Pamela stated the greatest honor she has received is representing the Wenatchee Valley as one of two Apple Blossom Princesses during 2005. After Pamela’s parents died, she and her sister came to live with her uncle Enrique Sanchez, who is also a teacher at Eastmont High School, and his wife Jackie. She said, “Mr. Sanchez is a great role model for everyone, especially Latino students, because we all want to succeed in life. . . I want to be a teacher like him and help others and make a difference in their lives. . . that’s why I want to be a teacher to help others who need my help and teach my future students everything I know to help them succeed in our world today.”

Nicole Benoit, a graduate of Wenatchee High School, talked about her favorite teachers, her mother and father, who are both elementary music teachers. She said, “More than my education, they have taught me ethics, family, and consequence, all which constitute life . . . teachers and parents like them are the ones that make a difference in school, in the world, and in life.” Nicole participated in an impressive variety of activities during her high school career, including vocal music, piano competition, National Honors Society, Leavenworth Summer Theater, ballet, French Club, Interact Club, Key Club, and Math Club.

Adeline Estes, our third winner, wrote a story about one of her teachers at Liberty Bell High School and said, “Because Mr. Kallery instilled in me the expectation of no less than my best, I’ve achieved many things that I can be proud of. But, I still know that my full potential has not yet been met – and I know that Mr. Kallery’s influence in my life will continue to motivate me to achieve greatness – because he has already influenced the direction of my future. Because of Mr. Kallery, I discovered my passion for learning and I hope to one day motivate students the way he motivated me.” Adeline was active in the Associated Student Body, Key Club, National Honors Society, class government, school newsletter, and varsity sports (soccer, basketball and track).

The stories written by our scholarship winners, along with other scholarship applicants, will be used in putting together Teachers Make a Difference IV. To purchase Lighting the Way for Others, please contact Eldene Wall at (509) 665-2629 or eldenew@ncesd.org.