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Education
The Peoria Education Foundation Honors PUSD Seniors with Thousands in Scholarships
The Peoria Education Foundation awarded more than $45,000 in scholarships to Peoria Unified high school seniors this year. Many scholarship recipients were from Upper Westside schools.
The Peoria Education Foundation awards various scholarships for high school seniors in the following categories: The Against All Odds Scholarship recognizes Peoria Unified high school seniors who have overcome adversity and tremendous obstacles to successfully complete their graduation requirements and plan to continue their education. The Community Service Scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate a strong commitment to the community and excel academically. Each student who has been awarded this scholarship completed more than 100 hours of community service. The Joseph McCord Memorial Scholarship is designed to honor high school students with a passion for history who plan to continue their postsecondary education. The Dr. Santarelli Leadership Scholarship honors the achievements of graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated excellence in leadership throughout their high school career.
AGAINST ALL ODDS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:
• Alisa Rikert, Raymond S. Kellis High School • Fatima Hamed, Cactus High School • Francesca Maglalang, Ironwood High School • Julian Esber, Sunrise Mountain High School • Kira Freid, Sunrise Mountain High School • Leighann Fraley, Raymond S. Kellis High School • Logan Cambron, Liberty High School • Nicholas Zientek, Sunrise Mountain High School • Rachel Hill, Liberty High School • Rylee Hanel, Liberty High School • Sally Idrees, Peoria High School • Savannah Chartrand, Centennial High School • Trinity Rude, Peoria High School • Victoria Allen, Liberty High School
COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPS RECIPIENTS:
• Alexis Young, Liberty High School • Elena Andreyeva, Peoria High School • Francesca Maglalang, Ironwood High School • Jillianne Freid, Sunrise Mountain High School • Larisa Andreyeva, Peoria High School • Mehrail Lawendy, Peoria High School • Sean Weston, Sunrise Mountain High School • Suzanne Bigelow, Peoria High School • Wyatt Serafin, Cactus High School
JOSEPH MCCORD SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:
• Angel Noriega, Raymond S. Kellis High School • Kira Freid, Sunrise Mountain High School • Leighann Fraley, Raymond S. Kellis High School • Liam Beltram, Liberty High School
DR. SANTARELLI LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:
• Braedon Nuttall, Liberty High School • Jillianne Freid, Sunrise Mountain High School • Larisa Andreyeva, Peoria High School • Liam Beltram, Liberty High School
Scholarship recipients were recognized at a March 10 scholarship ceremony. To learn more about the Peoria Education Foundation, visit peoriaedfoundation.org.
West-MEC announces new Nursing Services Program
Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) - a public career technical education district - is excited to announce its new Nursing Services Program for the fall of the 2021-22 school year.
The Nursing Services one-year program prepares students with the necessary clinical and administrative knowledge to become entry-level nursing assistants. Students will receive hands-on training and learn how to properly administer basic nursing care, understand bodily systems and vital signs, practice clientcentered care and critical thinking, work on patient advocacy, teamwork and professionalism, practice patient hygiene care, collect basic specimens, and maintain patient records and proper ethics.
Students will be eligible for a muchneeded career path, as well as the professional and personal skills necessary to traverse a career in healthcare at any level. Many of those who complete the program will have the chance to work while attending school or other training.
“The healthcare industry is rapidly evolving. After completing our rigorous and authentic program, graduates will have the knowledge and skills necessary for diverse healthcare pathways. Our program bolsters the career progression outlook for local learners, our future healthcare leaders,” says instructor and program coordinator Tamara Greaball.
Furthermore, Nursing Services is just one of many programs West-MEC is preparing local students for fulfilling careers, healthcare and otherwise.
“We are so proud to offer yet another opportunity for our students to pursue a career they are passionate about. West-MEC is committed to offering a great education with our fine instructors and our partnerships with business and industry,” says Superintendent Greg Donovan.
West-MEC is a career technical education public school district that focuses solely on innovative career and technical education (CTE) programs that prepare students to enter the workforce and pursue continuing education, according to the district.
West-MEC CTE programs provide students opportunities to earn college credit and industry credentials. West-MEC serves more than 37,000 students from 48 high schools, across 3,600 square miles in the northern and western cities of the Phoenix Metropolitan area. West-MEC now also offers adult education programs.
Visit west-mec.edu for more information about West-MEC’s careerdriven education opportunities.
Education
Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Helps Make Music Possible for Upper Westside School
By Noah Flack
Emily Hendricks, an early elementary music teacher at Archway Classical Academy, recently had her wish granted as part of the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program. Every year Fiesta Bowl Charities awards grants to teachers across Arizona to help with classroom supplies, new lesson plans and technology. This year, it was more critical than ever.
“I may be biased, but my students are the best around. They love to learn through making, listening to, and reading about music, and they are filled with joy and excitement while doing so,” Hendricks says.
Hendricks used her $2,500 grant to retool her students’ music learning experience. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her students haven’t been able to sing in class. Instead, she has turned to instruments that don’t require facial contact. The grant went to purchase a classroom set of Boomwhackers, ukuleles and a digital keyboard. The students have already been using the new Boomwhackers, which are lightweight hollow percussion instruments, and she is looking forward to creating a ukulele club with smaller groups.
“When I pull out the Boomwhackers, the students are all excited and say ‘Oh my gosh!’ and they point at them and ask if we get to play with them,” Hendricks says.
Making an even greater impact, the instruments are used by other teachers and students throughout the school, making it a gift for all.
“I am blessed to get to teach students who look out for each other, making sure each student has an equal opportunity to learn,” Hendricks says. “With the granting of this wish, students will experience music in a different way, which will help enhance their development in reading, writing and arithmetic.”
The music class grant is just one of many grants donated to schools in the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program. In the past five years, the Fiesta Bowl has donated $3.7 million to nearly 850 teachers across Arizona. Wishes are varied and span across many different subjects and age groups including literacy, sensory and technology upgrades.
The Road to Success Starts at Deer Valley!
