Nancy Larson Foundation Scholar
Salem, OR ( May 10, 2018 ) – Corban University student Alexia Touchstone 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. Touchstone is one of ten recipients selected from the many applications received by the Foundation.
In her personal narrative, Alexia explained why she was inspired to become a teacher. “I have always wanted to be a teacher because despite my struggles in school, I found joy in learning new things,” said Alexia. “When I started kindergarten, I was afraid of school. My teacher helped calm my fears and showed me that learning can be fun. My third grade teacher showed me that education can teach you things beyond book knowledge, such as caring, compassion, empathy and responsibility. I would like to help my students discover the same joy.” Alexia continued, “I want to reach out to students who are struggling, hurting and needing someone to care about them. I want to be a teacher who is that constant, positive person in students’ lives. I want to show them that someone cares and through learning, they can achieve great things. I would like to show students that learning is here to help them succeed and school can be a positive experience for everyone.”
“Our committee was really moved by Alexia’s personal experiences that paved the way for her teaching career. She is a positive, dedicated and focused individual who wants to share the joy of becoming a lifelong learner. She is the type of teacher we like to support,” said Nancy Larson.
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.