Golden Futures chooses Baker senior
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools’ Academy of Teachers is announced the recipient of a new scholarship initiative designed to identify, support and hone the talents of Lee high school students who wish to become teachers for 2014 is Ida Baker senior Jessica Vanden Berg.
Vanden Berg is to receive the Golden Futures Scholarship Thursday during her Education Academy class, a course that gives her the teaching skills needed to be an educator. This class also allows her to volunteer at Gulf Elementary twice a week, which has helped her decide to become an elementary school teacher in Lee County.
Jessica has been an active member of the Baker Buddies club for the past three years and currently serves as club president. The Baker Buddies Club is a social inclusion club that works with the mentally disabled students and helps them to become more acclimated to a normal school setting. Jessica has a 3.59 GPA.
The Golden Futures Scholarship provides four years of tuition to Edison State College and is awarded annually to a deserving high school senior attending a Lee County District School exemplifying qualities of educational leadership and a passion to teach. In addition, Golden Futures recipients receive mentoring and support from members of the Academy of Teachers throughout college and into their initial years in the classroom. A condition of the scholarship requires recipients to complete a minimum of four years of service to Lee County District Schools upon graduation.