By Jennifer Jimenez
Independent Newsmedia

The Dysart Education Foundation awarded more than $48,000 in scholarship money to 11 seniors, chosen through an application process from Willow Canyon, Shadow Ridge, Dysart and Valley Vista high schools.

Recently, the students were honored during the First Scholarship Awards Dinner at Valley Vista High School, with food served by Valley Vista’s culinary arts department.

Donya Davis-Seay is a director with the Dysart Education Foundation. As the chairman of scholarships, she said had the distinct honor of selecting scholarship recipients alongside two others.

“We award one scholarship to each four high schools and it is $6,000 over four years,” Ms. Davis-Seay said. “That is $24,000 each year and we do that every year.”

Last year the DEF raised more than $20,000 by hosting a golf tournament and also from sponsorships from businesses.

Ms. Davis-Seay said another great way they have received monies is through United Way. She said anyone who wants to help the district can designate the money to go to DEF.

“We also had a scholarship drive and reached out to organizations to ask for money and they were more than supportive,” she said.

Recipients were chosen based on need, GPA, letters of recommendation and service. Ms. Davis-Seay said this year they were able to touch some kid’s lives that were not at the top of their class, but were deserving due to their past accomplishments and what their teachers said about them.

“It’s amazing to see how the district recognizes these students are our future and pour so much into them,” she said. “Other committees also get involved in scholarships and this year we had an anonymous donor who just really wanted to change a girl’s life.

Governing board member Traci Sawyer-Sinkbeil said these awards show that Dysart students want to better themselves.

“It’s a win win situation that the students want to better themselves and that will help get them into a profession they want and the district and the community are right behind them,” Ms. Sawyer-Sinkbeil said. “In light of a lack of public funding and the issues students are facing, this shows they really want to succeed.”

Dysart Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Gail Pletnick said the dinner was really a reflection of the hard work the students put into their education.

“Events like these are important because they give us all an opportunity to recognize the fantastic efforts of our students. Additionally, it highlights the great community support for our students and schools and we are grateful for DEF for hosting such an event.” she said.

DUSD SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Dysart Education Foundation — $6,000 each to: Patricia Perez (Dysart HS), Craig Tracey (Shadow Ridge), Kylee Olson (valley Vista) and Ziah Patrick (Willow Canyon)
Iris, Inc — $1,000 to Isabelle Ward (Valley Vista)
AZ Lottery — $1,500 to Jessica Ormond (Willow Canyon)
Southwest Food Service Excellence — $1,500 to Madeline Muller (Shadow Ridge)
The Grand Opportunity — $5,000 to Jennifer Avila (Dysart HS)
Dysart High School Alumni — $6,000 to Kira Marion, $2,500 to Cristal Vega, and $1,000 to Jennifer Avila (all Dysart HS)
Friends of the Surprise Libraries — $6,000 to Jennifer Lance (Dysart HS)