By Ralph K. Spencer, D'Evelyn Education Foundation Board of Directors
We can all thank Heraclitus, the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, who is credited with saying that “Change is the only constant in life.” Most of my readers will be shaking their head yes as they agree with this staple of our daily lives. I thought I would use this well-known phrase to introduce yet another change coming to D'Evelyn that will impact many community members in the years ahead. I have had the distinct pleasure of being involved in the coordination of the Jamin B. Wilson Excellence in Education Awards over the last 10 years. The E in E Awards, as they have become known, have positively impacted the lives of 21 recipients since the first two awards were given at the 2008 Senior Banquet. Specifically, $41,000 has been awarded to D'Evelyn community members over the last ten years! Every penny of this $41,000 has been raised through the generosity of D'Evelyn community members, friends, and family of Jamin B. Wilson, a 1999 D'Evelyn graduate who went on to Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (for ROTC classes). Unfortunately, Jamin died tragically in an automobile accident in December 2006 while commuting to his Air Force job in Germany. More than $90,000 has been raised over the last 11 years in Jamin’s name to award deserving D’Evelyn educators for their own “excellence in education.” In the beginning, both recipients of the E in E Award received a $1,500 no-strings-attached check, a framed certificate, and an impressive glass trophy. In the fourth year, the dollar amount was raised to $2,000 for each of the two recipients. Two years ago, the dollar amount was raised to $2,500 for each award recipient. And the change continues. During the 2018 Senior Banquet, to be held on May 16 at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel, one Excellence in Education award will be given to a single recipient. In addition to the traditional framed certificate and glass trophy, the winner of this year's award will receive a check for $3,500! This change is being made in the hope that we can soon endow this award so it can continue to recognize deserving D'Evelyn community members for many years into the future without the need for future donations. While students are not eligible for this award, there are many deserving D'Evelyn community members who are eligible and can be nominated by anyone familiar with the nominee's work. Simply go to the D'Evelyn Scholarship web site http://develyneducationfoundation.weebly.com/scholarships.html. Finally, just like the student scholarships, all Excellence in Education Award nominations are due to Ms. Brown in the Counseling Office no later than 3:00 p.m. on April 4. And watch out! More change is coming, except I don't know what it is!!! Comments are closed.
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The D'Evelyn Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. The Board of Directors oversees the finances, legal issues and long-term strategic plans of the organization Archives
May 2023
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