AWARDS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS
For detailed information about awards go to DKGCA.org Committees page and click on the Scholarship Committee. Application forms are linked on the committee webpage.
Road Scholar and Hostelship Awards are given by the Awards and Recognition Committee. Application forms and information are linked to the committee webage.
GRANTS AND AWARDS FOR NON-MEMBERS
Penne Ferrell is an award for non-members.
Click the button to view information and a link to the application.
DKG CALIFORNIA HONORS MEGAN ROHN WITH 2024
AREA XVII OUTSTANDING STUDENT TEACHER AWARD
Megan is a remarkable young woman with many talents! She is gregarious and personable-- and ALWAYS professional, whether she is dealing with parents, staff, or students. She is highly organized and efficient with her time and efforts. She prepares detailed lesson plans, delivers interesting topics to students, supporting those who need the help. She recognizes the need for multiple modalities of learning and incorporates technology into her delivery.
Megan actively seeks feedback from both students and staff and incorporates this feedback into her routines. She seeks the professional advice of others, and routinely donates her time to educational endeavors that are outside of her program’s requirements. Examples include her active participation in campus walk throughs and PLC Collaboration meetings. Megan strives to create meaningful relationships with students. She feels that it is important for students to understand that she cares about them as a person and wants them to feel valued in the classroom. She is always professional but seeks to find ways to make the classroom even more inclusive of all students. Megan is fully aware that mutual respect between students and staff is something that is incredibly important and actively works to ensure that she demonstrates this within the classroom. Megan is well liked by all who know her. Megan states that she would like to become an OUTSTANDING teacher, one that students enjoy learning from. She intends to complete her Master’s in Education in the next five years. She expressed a desire to be the head of an Environmental Club at whatever school she is hired to teach at because the Environmental Club at the high school she attended sparked her interest in becoming a science teacher. She believes that environmental issues affect all of us and every student should be aware of their own-- and their community’s--impact on the world. Eta Mu plans to recognize Megan at the end of year Garden Party. She will receive a check and certificate from DKG California ETA MU'S EARLY CAREER EDUCATOR AWARD RECIPIENT IS RENEE TARO
RENEE is an outstanding first grade teacher at Dent Elementary School. From the moment she receives her class lists, Renee begins the important work of getting to know her students. Once they are in her classroom, Renee works hard to connect with her students on an individual level. She takes every opportunity to build the personal bonds that are so important in facilitating student learning. One of her strengths is getting to know these students and their personal interests very quickly. Renee loves to have personal conversations on these topics with her students. Cultivating these relationships helps to build classroom community. Every student is unique, with unique backgrounds, strengths, and needs-- Renee understands this and leverages the knowledge to help the students connect with each other, further enriches the classroom experience for all students. Renee is quick to point out how each student can use their personal strengths to contribute to the rich fabric of the classroom, and everyone has the ability to help another student. Renee sets high expectations for her students but provides them with the support that they need to be successful. She works with first graders, so consistency is important. She works diligently at the beginning of the school year (and after breaks) to ensure that students know what is expected of them behaviorally and academically. Renee is particularly cognizant that not every student needs the same thing at the same time and strives to create a learning environment that is conducive to every student. Another particular strength of Renee's is her ability to address the socio-emotional learning of each student. She knows that a student who has their basic needs addressed is more likely to be academically successful ("Maslow before Bloom!"). Renee works hard to incorporate lessons and discussions that allow students to develop empathy for one another and to grow their positive communication skills. One of Renee's favorite parts about being a teacher is watching them grow throughout the year, particularly in the area of reading as she feels it is a critical skill for a student's success. She is consistently positive with her students, always encouraging them to stretch their abilities and grow their skills. Renee particularly enjoys watching students achieve their learning goals and work towards new ones-- she finds these achievements to be particularly rewarding. In closing, Renee is a compassionate, well organized, and intelligent young woman who is making a huge difference to the students of Dent Elementary in the Escalon Unified School District. She has the heart and soul of the very best of educators! Renee truly loves each of her students and meets them "where they are." She helps each of them to develop a love of learning. Eta Mu hopes to welcome Renee to the ranks of DKG very soon.
2024 Penne Ferrell Literacy Award Recipient |
Lisette Castorena, nominated by Eta Mu, received the Penne Ferrell Literacy Award. Lisette teaches 1st grade and is the Grade Level Lead Teacher at James Marshall Elementary School in Modesto. With the award, Lisette plans to purchase books to enhance her classroom library. This is Lisette’s third year of teaching. She graduated from CSU, Stanislaus, and lives in Delhi. Kathleen Heinzinger and Pat Elston presented her award in her classroom, and Lisette was recognized at the February meeting.
Lisette Castorena, nominated by Eta Mu, received the Penne Ferrell Literacy Award. Lisette teaches 1st grade and is the Grade Level Lead Teacher at James Marshall Elementary School in Modesto. With the award, Lisette plans to purchase books to enhance her classroom library. This is Lisette’s third year of teaching. She graduated from CSU, Stanislaus, and lives in Delhi. Kathleen Heinzinger and Pat Elston presented her award in her classroom, and Lisette was recognized at the February meeting.
Lisette Castorena, nominated by Eta Mu, received the Penne Ferrell Literacy Award. Lisette teaches 1st grade and is the Grade Level Lead Teacher at James Marshall Elementary School in Modesto. With the award, Lisette plans to purchase books to enhance her classroom library. This is Lisette’s third year of teaching. She graduated from CSU, Stanislaus, and lives in Delhi. Kathleen Heinzinger and Pat Elston presented her award in her classroom, and Lisette was recognized at the February meeting.
DKG CALIFORNIA HONORS CLAIRE LUK WITH 2023
AREA XVII OUTSTANDING STUDENT TEACHER AWARD
Claire’s work ethics as a Pacific student and classroom student teacher have been stellar. As a Pacific student, she asks questions and reflects on her teaching practice which enriches her course colleagues as well. Claire is balancing her Pacific course, student teaching, work schedule and family responsibilities that suggest she is an outstanding student who deserves recognition. Claire represents the Pacific student body with distinction. As expressed by her Professional Practice instructor, Charlane Starks, “I chair several dissertation committees, so I know an advanced studies scholar when I engage with them. In my EDUC 141 course, which Claire enrolled in her junior year of studies, I recognized Claire as a future advanced studies candidate. Should she wish to pursue her Master and Doctorate in Education degrees, she will have my full support.”
Continuing, Ms. Starks says, “Claire has a teacher's presence in the classroom that conveys calmness and warmth toward all students, which illustrates her willingness to provide a safe learning environment. She enhances the classroom environment to its fullest capacity so that she can provide all students with access to the curriculum. Claire reflects nicely on her clinical practice experience to deliver lessons utilizing highly effective teaching methods, feedback, technology use, and other resources to support all students’ engagement with instructional tasks. Claire has the right professional educator disposition. She is thoughtful and is an absolute joy to work with, and the district and school community she decides to work in will be the greatest benefactor of this talented educator. Her commitment to the classroom and school community, whether within her classroom or here in courses at the university, is always on display. Claire has my highest recommendation for this award.”
Claire’s award was presented at Hamilton Elementary by Tau President Linda Christian, Area Director Pat Elston, and Barbara Nash who nominated Claire. She was honored to be recognized.
AREA XVII EARLY CAREER EDUCATOR AWARDS 2023
Area XVII recognized two Early Career Educators, teachers in their first to third year of teaching, who are doing an outstanding job in education. Each recipient will receive a certificate and a check from Area XVII funds and be recognized by the nominating chapter. Congratulations to these fine young educators
Alicia Garcia
Nomination by Eta Mu, Denise Carlson-Nieto
Alicia is a ray of sunshine every day. She comes to school every day to stand up and work hard for her students. Alicia is a second-year intern but teaches like a veteran. She loves her students, and they love her. She is masterful at engaging her students and provides the most welcoming environment for their best learning. We are proud to be her colleague and excited to see all she will accomplish.
Nomination by Eta Mu, Denise Carlson-Nieto
Alicia is a ray of sunshine every day. She comes to school every day to stand up and work hard for her students. Alicia is a second-year intern but teaches like a veteran. She loves her students, and they love her. She is masterful at engaging her students and provides the most welcoming environment for their best learning. We are proud to be her colleague and excited to see all she will accomplish.
Madyson Wolf Jackson
Nomination by Epsilon Nu, Gloria Bracco
Madyson is a continuous learner and dedicated to education. She has a passion for helping her students learn and grow. She is a positive and enthusiastic educator. She loves to teach phonics and reading and enjoys teaching the socially emotional learner and incorporating the learning throughout the different subjects. She is an expert in being flexible and adaptable to her work environment and student needs. She is continually growing in all areas with a focus on reading instruction. She loves small group instruction and building knowledge and reading in a positive and safe classroom environment for all her students.
Nomination by Epsilon Nu, Gloria Bracco
Madyson is a continuous learner and dedicated to education. She has a passion for helping her students learn and grow. She is a positive and enthusiastic educator. She loves to teach phonics and reading and enjoys teaching the socially emotional learner and incorporating the learning throughout the different subjects. She is an expert in being flexible and adaptable to her work environment and student needs. She is continually growing in all areas with a focus on reading instruction. She loves small group instruction and building knowledge and reading in a positive and safe classroom environment for all her students.