Scholarship Recipients
The Professional Employees Association is pleased to announce the 2008-2009 PEA Scholarship Recipients.
Amanda Corn
Thanks so much for the scholarship. It'll help me so much in getting through school!
K
ristin Howell
Dear PEA Scholarship Committee: Thank you so much for choosing me as a recipient for the PEA Scholarship. This money means a lot to me and I am grateful to have been chosen. I have three young children and this scholarship will help alleviate the financial strains of raising a family while working and going to school. I am pursuing a second bachelor's degree in Special Education. I am appreciative to all who have contributed to make this scholarship possible.
Bonnie Varga
I am very excited to be receiving one of the PEA scholarships for the 2008-09 school year. This will be my third year at Utah State and I will be studying History. This award is a fantasic aid to me financially, and will help me be more able to focus on my studies. I am very grateful to the organization for sponsoring this scholarship and helping me realize my goals here at Utah State!
Nicholas Winn
Dear PEA Scholarship Committee: I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to the committee for being selected as one of the scholarship recipients for the 2008-09 year at USU. Going to Utah State has been my ultimate dream and goal and your assistance with my education will be invaluable. I was excited when I received your letter in the mail and it made me feel good that I have worked so hard the last few years. Thanks again and GO AGGIES!!!
Rob Barton
Dear Professional Employees, Thanks to all of you who contribute to the PEA scholarship, and thanks to all PEA members that give to USU in so many different ways. I have loved working at USU these past 5 years because of the great people I am surrounded by. It has really been working with all of you that helped me decide that my career will be in higher education and that I should work towards a PhD. I am almost done with coursework and will start the research phase of my degree soon. The PEA scholarship will cover most of my expenses for this coming year and help avoid more student loans. I know that some people hesitate to get involved in various activities because they don't have a ton of experience, but each person does make a difference. Thanks again for the difference you've all made in my life.
Kathryn Bezzant
I would like to thank the PEA for the scholarship I received. It will really help me achieve my academic and professional goals of becoming a pediatric audiologist. I am passionate about helping little ones with disabilities, and their families. That is why my work as an early interventionist, at the Up to 3 Early Intervention Program, is so rewarding. I have been accepted into the Audiology Doctoral program at USU. As part of this course of study, I will complete a capstone project of developing a hearing screening curriculum for early interventionists. Educating professionals, that work with this young population, is critical to early identification of children with hearing loss. I am excited to start my work and to give something back to Up to 3 and to Utah State University.
Bill Jensen
Dear PEA Members, I know that one of the most important things that we can do to better ourselves in our careers is to further our education. As you can see by the attached photo, I have many responsibilities. With these responsibilities I have limited resources where time and money is concerned. This scholarship will help me greatly financially and I appreciate being selected as a recipient. Thank you for your support.
Dear PEA Scholarship Committee & Professional Employees: Thank you for this PEA scholarship award! A am so grateful for this financial assistance and it is greatly appreciated! I have always wanted to pursue an MBA and finally everything worked out so that I could attend. It is more challenging than I thought and even harder while raising a young family of four. The PEA scholarship will help me immensely because I have to pay for my education with student loans. Receiving the scholarship will help relieve the stress of getting our family further into debt and it helps me focus on graduate school. I would like to thank those who donate to the scholarship fund and let you know that your donations really make a difference! I think it is a very important part of PEA and I hope that you will continue to offer assistance to PEA members for many more years.
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Celestial Brandley
Bethany Crane
Jacob Jensen
Trevor Jensen
Katie Jo Nielsen
Lindsey Thurgood
I am a recipient of the PEA Scholarship. I am writng to you to express my sincere gratitude. It is so helpful to receive this scholarship, not only for me, but for my husband as well. We really appreciate this award. This scholarship gives us the opportunity to focux on our grades and to graduate on time as well as avoid the unwanted debt from student loans. From the bottom of my heart I thank you and will work hard to make boththe PEA organization and my husband and myself proud of the work that is accomplished in this next year because of this opportunity that I have been given.
Some of my future plans are to graduate from my masters program at least cume laude by May 2008. I would like to become an expert on the topic of adolescenece. I would like to publish my thesis and continue to research as wellas publish my findings of that research. I would also like to continue my education on to a PhD program. Eventually I would like to be a professor and/or continue to work in student services at a college/university level.
Another goal my husband and I have is to establish a scholarship at Utah State University. I have had this dream since I was an undergraduate student. Because of our own financial need we can not do that at this time, but we donate as much as we can, not only monetarily but we dedicate our time to the university and we are activists and recruiters wherever we go for Utah State University.
Again, thank you so much for your generosity.
Sincerely,
Celestial Starr (Bybee) Brandley
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Thank you very much for granting me this scholarship. I am grateful for the opportunity and the ability to further my education. This has allowed my ambitions to become a reality, and I am most grateful for it.
Bethany Crane
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I would like to thank the Professional Employees Association very much for accepting my application. I am very grateful for the scholarship that I have received. I am planning on taking two semesters of general education courses before I leave on an LDS mission. This money will assist with tuition and buying textbooks and will help a lot.
Sincerely,
Jake Jensen
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Trevor Jensen
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I would like to express my sincere appreciation and deepest gratitude for giving me the opportunity of the PEA scholarship. I am honored to be a recipient of this award. I value my education and love my experience at Utah State. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial challenges of tuition and I look forward to graduating with my Master’s Degree in School Counseling in May 2008. I have a deep love for Utah State University both as an employee and as a student.
Thank you again and GO AGGIES!
Katie Jo Nielsen
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I would like to thank you all for awarding me an organizational scholarship. I am very grateful to the members of the PEA scholarship committee and professional members for giving me this opportunity; thank you for doing so much to further the professional development of colleagues. During the 2007-2008 academic year I will be continuing my studies in Educational Research and Evaluation Methodologies; an interdepartmental doctoral program housed within the College of Education. This scholarship money will be used to pay for my fall and spring semester tuitions as well as textbook fees. I look forward to continuing my studies and I’d like to thank the members of the PEA for this wonderful opportunity to continue my educational endeavors.
Thank you very much!
Lindsay Thurgood
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Richard Anderson
Amy Baldwin
Dawn Black
Heather Chapman
Jonathan Huppi
Vicky Larsen
Betsy Newman
Curt Phillips
Randy Smith
I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the Professional Employees Association and Utah State University for this opportunity to receive a scholarship award for the forthcoming school year. The funds from the PEA will greatly assist my efforts to continue my pursuit towards completing a Bachelors degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Utah State University.
Respectfully,
Richard M. Anderson
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Thanks, PEA Scholarship for helping me towards my academic goals for this upcoming school year. I sure am appreciative for the extra funds.
Thanks again,
Amy Baldwin
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I would like to thank the Professional Employee Association and its contributors for this scholarship award. It is great to know that Utah State University has a collective body of employees that are looking out for each other and are willing to contribute to see others continue their education. I am very grateful for being selected as a recipient.
I will be completing my Master’s Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in School Counseling Spring 2007. I have enjoyed not only my education at USU, but my experience working as an advisor in the Elementary Education Department. Working full-time and going to school has placed many burdens on my family. This scholarship will ease some of that stress and allow me to volunteer in the schools around Cache Valley to further my experience.
Thank you!
Dawn Black
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I would like to take a minute to say thank you for all that you do for students on campus and for recognizing me as one of this year’s scholarship recipients. I am incredibly appreciative. The worry and strain on students of figuring out how to continue our educations can be tough at times. For me personally, I’m not sure I know the words to express the relief that your award has brought to me.
Currently, I am putting the finishing touches on my Master’s thesis and will start my doctoral dissertation in the fall. I am so excited to be able to focus more of my energy on doing the best that I can in my education and less on the financial aspect of schooling. Your contributions are helping me to do that and will in the long run ontribute to bettering my life, the lives of my family members, and the community as a whole. My family and I are so thankful for that.
Thank you again for this great opportunity,
Heather Chapman
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I would like to thank the Professional Employees Association for providing the money for this scholarship. With the scholarship, I will be able to work less and practice more. As a music performance major, I can’t study off of flash cards or books as I’m riding the bus or walking from class to class. I must practice with the guitar in hand. This scholarship will help by giving me more time to practice than I would have otherwise.
Respectfully,
Jonathan Huppi
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Please accept my heartfelt thanks for the generous scholarship which has been awarded to me from the Professional Employees Association. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to finally realize my educational dream and complete my BS degree by next May, 2007. I recently went through financial devastation (divorce) and I was certain I would need to put my education on hold – yet again! I’m so grateful that I can continue on and not delay my graduation.
I have been taking classes off and on since the early 1980s. I began my employment at USU in 1984 and have been picking away at classes off and on since then. I received my Associates degree in 2002 and with the help of this scholarship I will finish my BS degree in Interdisciplinary Studies next year.
Again, I am so grateful for this scholarship award. Thank you all so very much.
Warm regards,
Vicky Lynn Larsen
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Please allow me this opportunity to thank each of the committee members for awarding me a PEA Scholarship for the 2006-2007 academic year. This scholarship provides me with the financial boost needed to achieve my academic goals. I would especially like to thank the many people who donate to the PEA Scholarship Fund. Your generosity does not go unrecognized and without your contributions USU students like me would be unable to complete their degree programs in a timely manner.
With warm regards,
Betsy Newman
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This letter is being written to thank you for the generous scholarship that was presented to me this past month. I have recently re-entered the academic arena in pursuit of an advanced degree. This decision to further my education was a difficult one and one that has put additional strain on our family’s finances.
Your contribution will be greatly appreciated as it will allow for a continuation of my educational pursuits with less concern over the financial aspect of my education. My wife and I are very appreciative of your generosity and hope to assist students in the future by contributing to the fund. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Curt Phillips
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I would like to thank the Utah State University Professional Employees Association for the generous award in helping me complete the administrative/supervisory certification program in the department of education. I have been teaching at Logan High School for 17 years and am sincerely grateful for this opportunity to advance my education and experience in the field of education. Not only do I wish to thank the PEA committee for selecting me as a recipient of this scholarship, but I also wish to thank each and every member of the USU Professional Employees Association for their kind contributions which make this wonderful program available for all recipients.
I intend to complete my certification program and then enter into the administrative ranks of education. I hope that my experience and education will allow me to share my commitment to education with other professional educators as well as the many students that I have association with.
Once again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
Randy Smith
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Christopher Howell
Lisa Leishman
Brook Peacock
Celia Peterson
Shane Sessions
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Christopher Howell is completing his Master’s degree in Education. He currently teaches and coaches at Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah. Chris received his Bachelor of Science degree in History with a minor in Sociology in 1999. He is the son of Marsha Howell who is employed with Purchasing Services.
A note of thanks from Chris
Thank you so much for awarding me this year’s PEA Scholarship. I am so appreciative to your association and the contribution you make in young people’s lives in their quest for a quality education.
I teach high school in Cache Valley and am in the process of finishing my Masters degree and I am in my last semester. I plan to apply these monies to this final semester. My Masters degree will allow me to teach a couple of subjects other than what I have been teaching the last six years. My degree will also give me a substantial pay increase.
Again thank you for this scholarship.
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Lisa Leishman graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and a minor in German in 1994. She has been employed with Utah State University for ten years and currently serves as the Director of Parking and Transportation. Lisa is determined to successfully meet the challenges of completing her graduate studies in Human Resources while continuing to maintain her 4.0 GPA.
A note of thanks from Lisa
I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you for recognizing me as one of the PEA scholarship recipients for 2005-06. It is an honor to receive this award, but it is even more of an honor to be recognized by your peers.
Thanks to each of you who contribute to the scholarship funds as well as those who put in so many volunteer hours for the benefit of all professional employees at USU. This is a great place to work and I have enjoyed furthering my education at USU. Graduate school can be expensive and I appreciate the financial assistance the scholarship will provide. Thank you again!
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Brook Peacock is an incoming freshman considering a major in Mechanical Engineering. She will graduate from Logan High School in June 2005 with an impressive 4.0 GPA. Her mother, Kathy Peacock, is employed in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.
A note of thanks from Brook
I would like to thank the Professional Employees Association for choosing me as a recipient of this great scholarship. With this scholarship I will be able to attend USU without having to concern myself with financial issues. Education is very important in my life and I look forward to graduating in the fastest time possible. With this extra money I will be able to focus more on my schooling and not on working. Thanks to all the contributors for making this possible!
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Celia Peterson is a graduate student completing her degree in Bioregional Planning. She has served as her department’s graduate student representative to the College of Natural Resources Graduate Student Council, as well as a graduate student senator representing her college in the Graduate Student Senate. Celia also contributed more than 20 hours a week to the university through her graduate assistantships, and still managed to maintain a 3.95 GPA. She is the daughter of James and Adrienne Akers both of whom are employed with the Center for Persons with Disabilities.
A note of thanks from Celia
Thank you very much for making it possible for the PEA selection committee to award me a scholarship towards my final semester at USU. During the Fall 2005 semester I will finish writing my Master’s thesis, entitled “Bioregional Planning in the Southern Kenya Rangelands: A Pilot Project for Alternative Futures.” The award will allow me to focus solely on my research. My thesis will be used as the preliminary assessment of the region south of Nairobi for an Alternative Futures project to be undertaken by a team from Utah State University, several African agencies, and Harvard University. It is an exciting project which involves a spectacular variety of wildlife, an interesting political and economic situation, and a committed group of local participants from Maasailand. Although the project is interesting and fulfilling to me, it has been unfunded up to this point, and I have worked on several research projects in order to earn money for tuition and living expenses. It will be a relief to back off on other projects and focus on my thesis.
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Shane Sessions is a graduate student completing his Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. In 1998 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences with a minor in Spanish. Shane is employed as a Lieutenant with Utah State University Police and has already reaped benefits from his graduate studies and applied them in his current position. A busy father of six children, he has successfully maintained a 3.89 GPA.
A note of thanks from Shane
To the Scholarship committee as well as to all of the Professional Employees of USU, thank you. I am greatly honored and gratified to be selected as an award recipient for this coming academic year.
The value of this scholarship to me and my family is tremendous. As a family we have our financial challenges like everyone else: food and housing expenses, medical bills, youth sports and other things associated with educating and raising our children. Then add to that my tuition, fees and books each semester and it becomes very difficult.
I will complete by Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management this years. As I utilize this degree in my employment here at USU, I expect the University to benefit in my ability to manage the limited resources we have been given. I have already had the opportunity to use some of the things I have learned in my academic course work that has benefited my department and me. There will be a significant return on investment from the scholarship awarded to me. For that is how I view it, you are investing in me to provide a greater financial return to the University as a whole.
I sincerely appreciate and thank you for this scholarship award.
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Kirsten Barton
Amy Hopkins
Mandy James
Rodney Price
Jeffrey Reece
Blaire Saunders
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Kirsten Barton is returning to school after a three year hiatus to pursue a degree in Business Information Systems. She received her Associate of Applied Science degree in Office Systems Support in December 2000 during which time she maintained a GPA of 4.0. She is married to Robert Barton, a Network Systems Specialist in Development Operations.
A note of thanks from Kirsten
Dear PEA Scholarship Contributors:
I would like to thank you so much for selecting me as a recipient of this scholarship. This scholarship will give me the financial ability to return to school to finish my degree in Business Information Systems. It has been a difficult decision for me to return to school after being a full-time mom for the last 3½ years, but I am looking forward to finishing the classes I need to earn my degree while being an example to my children of the importance of higher education. This scholarship will ease the financial challenges of attending college, and I will do my best to make the most of this scholarship! Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Kirsten Barton
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Amy Hopkins Merritt serves as the Program Administrator for events for the Shingo Prize office in the College of Business. She recently finished her undergraduate degree in Management and Human Resources while maintaining a 3.87 GPA.
A note of thanks from Amy
I would like to thank the Professional Employees Association for giving me the opportunity to further my education to receive a Masters Degree. This scholarship has helped me and my husband out a great deal. Being married and both trying to go to school can be stressful financially. I have sincere gratitude for those who made this possible for me. I am looking forward to learning new and exciting things and working towards achieving the goals that I have set. It is a privilege to work at Utah State University! Thank you again!
Sincerely,
Amy Merritt
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Mandy James is a sophomore majoring in Family and Human Development with a minor in Family Finance. She and her husband both work full time while attending Utah State University, and even so Mandy has maintained a 3.73 GPA. Her father in-law, Alan James, is the Payroll Supervisor in the Payroll Office.
A note of thanks from Mandy
Dear PEA Scholarship Contributors:
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for all those who have made this scholarship possible. It is so exciting to be able to return to Utah State University and further my education. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of all of you who have donated to make these scholarships available for myself and others over the years. What an honor it is to be one of the recipients. Thank you so much for the opportunity I now have to return to USU.
Sincerely,
Mandy James
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Rodney Price is employed with Utah State University as a Training and Development Specialist in Assistive Technology at the Center for Persons with Disabilities. He is completing his Masters of Education in Special Education with a Vision Endorsement. His GPA is 3.43. In addition to working for Utah State, Rodney serves on a multitude of national, state, and local committees and boards within his field.
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Jeffrey Reece is a senior majoring in Economics with a minor in Russian. He has maintained a 3.69 GPA while attending school, serving as president for the Economics Club, leading independent research projects, and working full time to support his family. Jeffrey’s mother, Deborah Reece, is an Academic Adviser in the Physics Department.
A note of thanks from Jeffrey
Dear PEA Scholarship Contributors:
As a recipient of a professional employee association scholarship I am indeed grateful to the scholarship contributors and community. The Professional Employees Association should be commended for the financial assistance its' scholarships afford to Utah State University students.
I will now be able to spend substantially more time preparing for and interviewing for employment with top consulting firms in the fall. Additionally, I will be able to spend more time studying for the GMAT this summer. Thank you!
Thank you again,
Jeff Reece
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Blaire Saunders is a senior majoring in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. She is a member of the Rhetoric Associates Program and has been involved with the University Scholar Club, and has served as a note-taker for the Disability Resource Center. Blaire has maintained a 3.58 GPA. Her father, Vic Saunders, is the Director of Development for the College of Agriculture.
A note of thanks from Blaire
Dear PEA Scholarship Contributors:
Thank you so much for the opportunity to continue my education. This scholarship will allow me to attend school full-time for the next year so that I can get out and use all those skills I’ve been taught in the classroom. This academic year I plan on completing a majority of my remaining credits for my Public Relations major as well as putting a big dent in the requirements for my Marketing minor. There are also plans in the works for a summer internship before graduation in fall of 2005.
What you’ve done for me and the other recipients is so important to us. Being a student can be difficult a lot of the time; there are a lot of demands on our resources. Thanks to you I’ll be able to spend more time on my class work and a little less time wondering how I’m going to pay for it all.
Thank you again for your contributions, it means the world to me.
Forever in your debt,
Blaire Saunders
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03-04
Kayleen Brown
Stacie Gomm
Elicia Lord
Kaitie L. Williams
Dustin Wood
Tiffany Wood
02-03
Information not currently available
01-02
Ben Berrett
Eric Broadbent
Cory Hansen
Eric Hawley
Caleb Jenson
Robyn Varga
00-01
Anna Furniss
Sarah M. Jenson
Elizabeth Lord
Stephen Marshall
John Reynolds
99-00
Mark B. Bradford
Quinn F. Brown
Kristen Marshall
M. Glenn Thimmes
Abigail Weston
98-99
Katy Hammon
Shane Hart
Jared Kadis
Holly McFarland
German Sabillon
97-98
Melissa Anderson
Joanie Robinson
Ghada Saad
Craig Steenerson
Joanie Robinson
96-97
Becky Andrews
Sheryl Ferwerda
Joseph Harmon
Katie Jenson
Nicholas Smith
95-96
Cameron Evans
William McManus
Wendy Ottley
Mitchell Parrish
Marie Stoker
94-95
Deborah Bishop-Gutknecht
David Hudson
Marjorie Hudson
Marnie Parrish
Catherine Stogner
Betty Weeks
93-94
Launi Evans
Allison Noble
Sylvia Robinson
92-93
Sarah Anderson
Kolony King
Amy McGrew
91-92
Laura Francis
Angela Morgan
Craig Robinson
Beth Walden
90-91
David Cahoon
Deborah Israelsen
Bryan Larsen
Stephen Warren
89-90
Brian Atkinson
Lisa Maw
Shanna Peterson
Joel Robinson
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