College of Education News

Recognition Brunch Honors More Than 100 College of Education Students

November 5, 2009

 

When Gregg Montgomery's father passed away, his mother was left with three children to raise and no college degree. Determined to give her sons the life they deserved, Jeanne Montgomery enrolled in a junior college in Danville for two years before transferring to the University of Illinois' College of Education, where Jeanne received scholarships that helped her complete her education.

Five years ago, Jeanne passed away, and Gregg Montgomery and his brothers used the inheritance money to establish the Jeanne Marie Montgomery Memorial Scholarship, a need-based monetary award given to students in the College of Education.

"The scholarship was designed to carry on the tradition of helping other students," Montgomery said. "I'm hoping there are other people - in similar situations as my mother - who find it beneficial."

The Montgomery Memorial Scholarship is one of more than 110 scholarships that were awarded at the College of Education's 2009 Student Recognition Brunch on Saturday Nov. 7 at the I-Hotel and Conference Center.

One such presentation was to Christine Garcia, a senior in elementary education, who was selected to receive the Jeanne Marie Montgomery Memorial Scholarship. Garcia applied in the spring, writing an essay on how her passion for volunteering and social justice will influence her future teaching and students. "I would hope that by incorporating service learning in the classroom, students would be more aware and connected with the community that they live in and where their school is," Garcia said.

In addition to this scholarship, Garcia was awarded the Ruth Kephart Scholarship, a four-year recruitment scholarship as a freshman. She is also a Golden Apple Scholar as part of a pre-teacher program that offers financial aid and additional teacher training and experience as a supplement to university education.

Garcia said she is grateful to have won the award, especially in such tough economic times, and knows that it will help her professionally.

"It shows that somebody has taken an interest in me by giving me funding for my education, that somebody believes there's something there," Garcia said.  

From the south side of Chicago, Garcia said she has experienced firsthand the inequalities that sometimes exist within the school system. As a teacher, she hopes to make a difference in minimizing these disparities. Receiving the scholarship is one step toward allowing Garcia to finish her education and realize these dreams.

"I just want to go in there and, as cliché as it sounds, make a difference and support kids who need it," Garcia said. "All students deserve a quality education."

For more information about the College of Education, contact our Communications Office at 217-244-8335 or email communications@education.illinois.edu