Scholarships & Awards

High School Senior Scholarships
Each year, 32nd District PTA awards four scholarships to high school seniors in recognition of a strong appreciation for and commitment to education, community and volunteerism. The application process for the year’s scholarships included an essay topic chosen in one of the four areas:  school volunteer, community service, overcoming a hardship, and exemplifies PTA values.  There is one recipient from each category.  At our Founders Day celebration on February 22, 2007 we were pleased to award these $500 scholarships to:

Thank you to this year’s Scholarship Committee:  Peggy Marshburn, Aleta Schnaitter, Sue Woodworth-Bennett, and Chairman, Kathy Coppersmith.

Honorary Service Awards

The 32nd District PTA traditionally presents Honorary Service Awards at our annual Founders Day Celebration.  Funds derived from these awards support the California State PTA scholarship and grant programs. Grants are available to local units, councils and districts to implement parent education programs. Scholarships provide funds for graduating high school seniors and teachers.  Congratulations to the 2007 Honorary Service Award Recipients:

The Bay Area Crisis Nursery.
The nursery is located in Concord and was founded in 1981.  The Mission Statement reads “The purpose of the Bay Area Crisis Nursery is to prevent abuse and neglect of children by providing support to families who are in stress or crisis.”  Their primary service is providing a warm, loving, home environment for children birth to five by offering 24 hour residential care.  These services are free, confidential and voluntary.  In 2003 they expanded to include a separate facility to care for children six through eleven.  The nursery has served over 16,000 children.  An Honorary Service Award was presented to the volunteers and staff who make this non-profit service possible.  Sister Ann Weltz, Founder and Director of the Bay Area Crisis Nursery, accepted the award.

The Contra Costa County Community Services Department Head Start Policy Council.
This council is comprised of elected parent representatives of currently enrolled children and local community representatives including parents of formerly enrolled children. The Head Start Policy Council works in partnership with the Supervisors and other key management staff to develop, review, approve or disapprove: Planning functions, general and human resource related issues. The Policy Council also serves as a link to Head Start Parent Committees in touch with parents to ensure that they understand their rights and opportunities in Head Start and Early Head Start.  An Honorary Service Award was presented to the 50+ members of the Policy Council and was accepted by Latrina Johnson, this year’s Chairperson.

The Honorable Lois Haight
Judge Haight has had an illustrious career from Juvenile Hall Counselor and Probation Officer to Assistant Attorney General of the United States appointed by former President Ronald Reagan.  Fortunately for Contra Costa County and the Juvenile Court System she spent nine years as supervising judge and was instrumental in improving the juvenile division. Judge Haight helped build a new juvenile hall, created a separate treatment center for young girls and established a special residential program for emotionally disturbed children.  She also initiated the county juvenile court dependency mediation program, helped establish a victim/offender reconciliation program for delinquents and placed probation officers on school campuses. Judge Haight, using her judicial salary, established the Lois Haight Foundation for Foster Children, providing scholarships and grants annually. A Continuing Service Award was presented to The Honorable Lois Haight for her work with the county juvenile system.

Thank you to this year’s Honorary Service Award Committee:  Carolyn Boord, Brenda Steffen, and Kathy Coppersmith, Chairman.