I was surprised and honored to find out I had won this award. I certainly wasn’t expecting to receive an award, so it took me a minute to process. Once I fully understood, I felt both pride and excitement. I’m using my grant money to purchase supplies that will help me provide my students with hands-on learning experiences, like math manipulatives. Anytime students can learn hands-on it provides a more lasting impact on their understanding and retention of the information. Plus, they have more fun learning that way.

I was lucky to have many passionate, clever teachers as a child that instilled a thirst for knowledge in me. They made solving problems exciting and brought literature to life, but most importantly, they made a difference in my life. So, I knew from the time I was young that I wanted to help others discover the wonders I had been shown. I was so happy to find out that someone nominated me for this award, because it means I’m making an impact on my students’ lives just like my teachers did for me. I used my grant money to purchase assistive technology devices to help my students more easily access and grasp the general education curriculum.

A heartfelt thank you to our local carwash for generously donating wash passes to our youth organization. This support not only helps us raise funds but also underscores the wonderful spirit of community engagement in Lampasas. We're grateful for their commitment to our youth and other local organizations, setting a positive example for community support.