Event Honors Scottsdale’s Finest on April 22, 2016
For Immediate Release
Scottsdale, Ariz. (April 13, 2016) – The Scottsdale Charros are pleased to honor the 2016 Scottsdale Unified School District Outstanding Students and Educators, Scottsdale Community College Educator of the Year, and The Charro Foundation scholarship and fellowship recipients. Honorees will be celebrated during the Scottsdale Charros 30th annual Outstanding Students and Educators Awards Banquet on Friday night, April 22, 2016. The awards banquet, presented by Grand Canyon University and sponsored by ASU Mary Lou Fulton’s Teachers College and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group will be held at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley – Scottsdale.
“The Charros believe a prosperous Scottsdale starts with supporting our public school system,” said Jason Heetland, Scottsdale Charros education committee chairman. “It is our pleasure to support our local schools, students and educators during the Outstanding Students & Educators Awards Banquet.”
The event’s keynote speaker is Ray Anderson, Arizona State University’s Vice President for University Athletics and Athletics Director. He will speak about the important role teachers played in his life, helping him achieve his dreams. Also speaking during the event are Dr. A. Denise Birdwell, SUSD Interim Superintendent and George Jackson, SUSD Governing Board member.
During the awards banquet, the following outstanding educators and students will be honored. Last December, these educators were selected by their peers as their schools’ teacher of the year and the students were selected by their principal and teachers as the schools’ student of the year. Event presenting sponsor, Grand Canyon University, is generously awarding scholarship funds to the high school outstanding students.
Elementary Outstanding Educators:
Courtney Wilson, Anasazi; Lisa Lieppert, ANLC; Jill Schadt, Cherokee; Georgia Card, Cheyenne; Zachary Woodward, Cochise; Nathan Tilbury, Copper Ridge; Julie Sparks, Desert Canyon; Dawn Martinez, Hohokam; Emily Cochran, Hopi; Trent Hart, Kiva; Kristine Dieball, Laguna; Andrea Mee, Navajo; Christina Hass Smith, Pima; Yadira Camarena, Pueblo; Debbie Shaeffer, Redfield; Beth Hintz, Sequoya; Amanda Waltuch, Tavan; Zach Cuppy, Tonalea; and Tammy Kohli, Yavapai.
Middle School Outstanding Teachers of the Year:
Yvonne White, ANLC; Nancy Holtbrook, Cheyenne; Jennette Burau, Cocopah; Kimberly Vallejo, Copper Ridge; Julie Young, Desert Canyon; Kristen Threet, Ingleside; Corey Muren, Mohave; Karen Batson, Mountainside; and Teresa Byro, Supai.
High School Outstanding Educators:
Barbara Thomas, Arcadia; Amy Palatucci, Chaparral; Wendy Paez, Coronado; Laurel Vogt, Desert Mountain; and Roxanne Desrochers, Saguaro.
High School Outstanding Students:
Graham Byron and Megan Reniewicki, Arcadia; Matthew Merritt and Allison Jorden, Chaparral; Lucas Wojcik and Devyn Strickland, Coronado; Jeremy Yampolsky and Brittany Demogenes, Desert Mountain; and James White and Brianna Gefroh, Saguaro.
The Charros will recognize Susan Moore as the 2016 Arthur W. DeCabooter Outstanding Educator for Scottsdale Community College.
Also being honored during the event are the 2016 Scottsdale Charros scholarship and fellowship recipients. This year, The Charro Foundation is pleased to award two four-year undergraduate scholarships to SUSD high school seniors, one two-year scholarship to SCC for a SUSD graduate, two master’s in education fellowships and three National Board Certification scholarships to teachers in the SUSD.
Future Teachers Scholarship Recipients: Tierney Turelli and Cassandra Stewart from Arcadia High School. Both will be attending NAU in the fall to pursue their bachelor’s degree in education.
Scottsdale Community College Scholarship Recipient: Celeste Alvarez, Coronado High School. Celeste will be pursuing an associate’s degree in business management.
Master’s in Education Fellowship Recipients: Ashley Hohaus, 5th grade/comprehensive gifted program teacher at Redfield Elementary School and Emily James, 1st grade teacher at Tavan Elementary School. Both will be attending the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at ASU to pursue a master’s degree in education. Ashley’s degree will be in educational leadership and Emily’s will be curriculum and instruction.
National Board Certification Scholarship Recipients: Lori Campos, pre-kindergarten teacher at Cherokee Elementary School; Kristina Dieball, first grade teacher at Laguna Elementary School; and Cathy Saraniero, lead visual arts teacher for nine campuses in the SUSD.
“The Scottsdale Unified School District takes great pride in the commitment our teachers demonstrate to ensure our students develop the skills necessary to achieve post-secondary success,” said SUSD Superintendent Dr. Denise Birdwell. “However, we recognize that we cannot do it alone. We rely on the support of our parents, local businesses and community partners, like the Charros. We want to thank the Charros who empower our students and teachers to pursue life-long learning that will impact generations to come.
“This event celebrates students and teachers who have committed to achieve excellence in the classroom and beyond,” Heetland said. “Working to better our community and doing so with the great leaders who make up the Scottsdale Charros past and present has been a truly rewarding personal experience in which I take great pride.”
For more information about the Outstanding Students and Educators Awards Banquet, visit
www.charrofoundation.org or call 480-990-2977.
About The Charro Foundation
The Charro Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which has provided millions of dollars in scholarship, grants and donations to local charities. The mission of The Charro Foundation is to promote education through scholarships, youth development and sports in our community. The Charro Foundation proudly supports this mission by developing programming through collaborative partnerships with community organizations. For more information about The Charro Foundation, please visit www.CharroFoundation.org or call 480.990.2977.
About Scottsdale Unified School District
Scottsdale Unified School District, where we Engage, Educate and Empower Every Student, Every Day. The Scottsdale Unified School District offers 31 schools serving approximately 24,448 students. School boundaries include parts of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Tempe. More information regarding SUSD can be found at www.susd.org.
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