June 13, 2008

Five seniors receive scholarships Evergreen Teachers

Association hands out awards

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

Five seniors, who attended Evergreen Elementary Schools, received $1,000 scholarships to college on June 5 at the district office.

This year’s Evergreen Teachers Association’s college scholarship awardees gathered with several members of the scholarship committee and Ed Jacklitch for a photo. Pictured, back row from the left are Judy West, Jean Schorr, Jacklitch, Parminder Sandhu, Audrey Ragsac, Kevin Tran and Diane Clemmensen. In the front are Reynalda Morfin and Karina Barragan. Photo by Carol Rosen

The awards, given through the Evergreen Teachers Association, are an annual event that includes the Alan Haydis College Scholarship and, new this year, the Carol Jacklitch Memorial Scholarship. Jacklitch taught third through eighth grade Evergreen School District students for 38 Years. She taught American and world history at Cadwallader, Holy Oak and Quimby Oak.

In addition, she served as chairperson of the teachers’ association’s scholarship committee, which during her 20-plus year tenure awarded more than 100 scholarships. She retired in 2004 and passed away last year.

“Carol held education to be of the highest importance for young people to get on the right track,” said Ed Jacklitch.
Haydis is a former Ever-green music teacher. The scholarship named to honor him is awarded to a student exhibiting a passion for the arts.

Reynalda Morfin, who attended K.R. Smith and Chaboya Schools and will graduate from Overfelt High School, is the first recipient of the Carol Jacklitch Memorial Scholarship. She will be attending San Jose State University where she plans to study civil or mechanical engineering. Morfin has a 3.8 grade point, is a member of MESA, California Scholarship Federation (CSF), LaRaza, Science Club and tutors freshmen, sophomore and junior students including some of her friends and students that have not passed high school senior test.

“I like to help people and I want more people to get a good education,” she said, while describing her studies in Spanish literature and AP calculus as well as taking care of her 4-year old daughter. “I’ve overcome a lot of obstacles,” she added. Morfin credits her success to her teachers who motivated and supported her throughout her elementary and secondary education.

Audrey Ragsac, who attended Cedar Grove and Quimby Oak, won the Alan Haydis Scholarship. She plans to attend UC Berkeley in the fall to study microbial biology and become a medical researcher. She is a member of Andrew Hill High School’s marching, concert and jazz band and the Music Honor Society. She holds a 3.9 grade point and is also a drum major, participates in swimming and cross county, was in the Science Bowl, the American Red Cross and was a member of the Health Occupational Students of America team that won state, as well as representing Italy in the Model United Nations, Kevin Tran, a student at Matsumoto and Chaboya will graduate from Evergreen Valley High School and heads to UC Irvine next fall where he will study psychology. The student has a 3.7 grade point and is a member of the National Honor Society, CSF, Key Club, Interact, MESA, tutors and volunteers at the library.

Karina Barragan was a student at Montgomery and Chaboya. She graduates from Pioneer this year and plans to attend San Jose State where she will study nursing. She has a 3.8 grade point and a list of activities that would tire even those with abundant energy. She is vice president of the extension club, a member of CSF, secretary of Pioneer’s ASB, plays volleyball and dives for school and has worked extensively in various plays and shows put on by the school’s drama department. She has worked for the past three years in various jobs at Starbucks, as a hostess and as a tutor as well as after school day care. And, she dances in her spare time.

Parminder Sandhu also attended Montgomery and Chaboya. He carries a 3.6 grade point and has not yet determined his major at UC San Diego. He too has participated in a large number of activities and clubs including Key Club, CSF, Interact, worked for the school paper and served as an intern at Assemblyman Jim Beall’s office last summer. In addition, he was secretary general for the Model United Nations and was a junior statesman of America.

The money for the scholarships comes through contributions from the Evergreen Teacher’s Associa-tion—this year contributing $3,000; a generous donation from Ed Jacklitch, the Administrator’s Golf Tournament, personal teacher contributions and donations from the money collected at the board of trustee’s retirement celebration.

Qualified students apply for the awards and then are interviewed by a scholarship committee made up of three current—Jean Schorr, Debbie Earl—who plans to retire at the end of the school year--and Brian Wheatley, and two retired district teachers, Diane Clem-mensen and Lisa Johnson. They evaluate the students on academic plans, career goals, financial needs and community service.

“All of these students are highly motivated and immerse themselves in high school by taking challenging classes, playing varsity sports, belonging to clubs and giving their time to extra-curricular activities in addition to holding down student government offices and maintaining remarkable GPAs. Many even hold down jobs. It’s amazing,” said Schorr, the scholarship committee chair who teaches at Norwood Creek Elementary.

The students vying for these awards are quite impressive, she said. Those competing for the scholarships write an essay and present it to the scholarship committee. During their interviews, they often share a special memory they have while attending an Evergreen District school. Among their memories are favorite classroom activities, fun school events and participation in sports and leadership classes, according to Schorr. Many of them also remember a special teacher that inspired them, she added.

“We are proud to have been a part of their early education and wish them every success with their future education,” she said.