Our chapter held its annual Awards Dinner on May 10 at the State Room in the Kellogg Conference Center on the Michigan State University campus. This year we awarded our Prospective Educator scholarship to Chloe VanSickle from Coopersville, Michigan. Chloe is a 2018 graduate of Coopersville High School, with a 4.0 GPA.
Chloe will be pursuing a program in secondary education at Michigan State University this Fall. During her high school years, she participated in Science Club and was Safety Captain of the all-female robotics team at Coopersville High School. She was also a member and team leader of “The Academy” which worked with a group of students to solve problems of local businesses. She was a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run and a Total Trek Quest Coach. In addition, she assisted with various service projects through her church, including Kids Against Hunger, garage sales and meal distributions and helped students in an elementary class at Coopersville Elementary School.
In her recommendation letter, the writer touched on Chloe’s character and work ethic. She wrote: “I have found very few students who have the type of work ethic that Chloe exhibits. Chloe always went the extra mile in and out of the classroom. She would often make review games on her own…and then would share them with me to help other students study”.
She continued, “Chloe has great respect for students, adults and herself. She is the student that you know will do the right thing at the right time no matter who is watching. She raises students up around her to be better”.
In her application essay, Chloe discussed her goals as an educator, “Educators are responsible for preparing the next generation to become contributing members of society by providing the resources and knowledge needed to be successful. They inspire students to set goals and work towards obtaining them. I have always had a passion for helping others attain their goals, and it is this passion that has inspired me to purse a career in education”.
Due to a prior commitment, Chloe was unable to attend the dinner, but was represented by her mother, Amy VanSickle.
Be sure to check our website pdkmi.org for the 2019 Scholarship Application, which will be available in January, and encourage any qualified high-school or college students to apply. The application deadline is March 1, 2019.