Submitted
Salina Education Foundation has selected its 2024 Loan Initiative for Future Teachers (LIFT) recipients. The following six recipients were selected from a pool of 12 applicants by a committee consisting of Salina Education Foundation Trustees, USD 305 staff, and community members.
Grace Allen - Grace is a graduate of South High School and attends the University of Kansas, majoring in Physical Education. She has a passion for working with elementary students. Grace wants to create an environment for her students that improves their physical and mental health. She believes it’s of the utmost importance to foster an environment of inclusivity that allows every student to participate and reach their full potential.
Chloe Highsmith - Chloe is a graduate of Central High School and attends Kansas State University, where she is a sophomore majoring in secondary education in Speech/Theater. She says the biggest role models in her life have all been teachers. She wants to do for her students what her teachers did for her - water the seeds of curiosity and nurture their passion for learning. She wants to touch the hearts and minds of students, to sparking a love for the pursuit of knowledge.
Kolbe Shafer - Kolbe is a senior at Central High School. He plans to attend Emporia State University and major in Mathematics Education. He is passionate about the process of learning for students. He wants to help them learn and support them in achieving their goals. He believes math helps students with their critical thinking skills and looks forward to helping them improve their skills.
Emily Streeter - Emily, a senior at South High School, looks forward to majoring in Elementary Education. She is a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, and she looks forward to fostering that same love of learning with new generations. Teaching supplies her with positive energy, especially with younger children because they are so excited about learning. Her goal is to become a positive influence and role model for the next generation.
Jessica Toman - Jessica is currently attending Wichita State University while working as a para-educator at Lakewood Middle School. This position opened doors for her as she realized she loves making a difference in students' lives. Her dream is to obtain her teaching license and teach Reading or English at the middle school level. She wants to bring a student-centered learning experience to an environment where all students feel safe and included.
Alexia Walsh - Alexia is a senior at South High School. She plans to attend Kansas Wesleyan University and major in Elementary Education. She understands the lasting impact teachers have on their students and looks forward to welcoming them to her classroom with open arms. She wants students to know they matter and that someone cares for them. She loves seeing the light bulbs go off when students start to understand the material.
LIFT recipients receive up to $5,000 in forgivable loans, renewable annually after completion of their freshman year in college. Upon becoming certified teachers, they are eligible for hire to teach in USD 305 schools. Loans are forgivable for each year they teach in Salina public schools. The LIFT program is supported by charitable donations from individuals, local charitable foundations and Saline County businesses.
Salina Education Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of trustees. Established in 1987 it endeavors to promote and support educational excellence by providing resources to enhance opportunities for the students and staff of Salina’s public schools.