Media Relations
University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
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Writer:
Brenna
Smith
(863) 667-7010
Contact:
Lorie
Barber
(863)
667-7023
to USF Lakeland Student
LAKELAND,
FL (December 21, 2001) - Imagine,
for a moment, leaving your home country to pursue an education in a foreign
land. You don’t know the language, aren’t familiar with the
traditions, but you are expected to make high grades and excel socially,
as well. Add to that the desire to work to relieve the financial burden
of your move on your family. Can you imagine this situation? This was
the situation that Minority Teacher Education Scholarship recipient, Lydmarie
Spruill faced when she first came to the United States.
A native of Puerto Rico, Spruill, moved to Lakeland four years ago in
an effort to learn English to pursue career opportunities in America.
A high school chemistry teacher, who discovered Spruill’s outgoing
spirit and desire for excellence, encouraged her to pursue high standards
and goals, urging her to consider a career in Education. When it came
time to register for college classes, Spruill found herself, on the spur
of the moment, signing up for Education classes. As a child, she had often
dreamed of becoming a teacher, even holding make-believe classes in her
room. The decision to enroll in Education classes proved to be an exceptional
choice for Spruill, as she excelled in her prerequisite classes at Polk
Community College and has already made quite an impression on faculty
and staff members at the University of South Florida Lakeland campus.
It was this positive impression that gave Spruill the opportunity to apply
for and eventually be selected to receive the Minority Teacher Education
Scholarship.
“When I was approached by the Tampa campus to choose someone for
this scholarship, Lydmarie automatically came to mind because of her strong
academic background, personality and organizational skills,” stated
USF Lakeland Education Advisor, Lori Barber.
The scholarship, awarded through the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers,
Inc. is “awarded biannually to minority students who wish to teach
in Florida’s public elementary and secondary schools,” states
the FFMT website. In order to qualify, students must be a resident of
Florida, have an ethnic background and must be newly admitted into a teacher
education program at one of the FFMT’s 29 participating universities.
Selection of recipients is based on the student’s written and oral
skills, overall academic performance and “evidence of commitment
to the youth of America.”
Out of the eighteen applicants for the scholarship from USF, Lydmarie
Spruill was one of only six selected and was the only recipient from USF
Lakeland. Spruill, who currently substitutes in the area, is adamant,
however, that she didn’t receive the scholarship simply because
she is from a minority group. “The one thing I want people to know,
is that I did not receive this scholarship just because I am a minority.
I have worked hard to be where I am.”
Dr. Claire Hite, Assistant Professor and Program Director of Education
at USF Lakeland agrees that Spruill has worked diligently to be where
she is today, “She is a wonderful student. She never does anything
but her best. What most appeals to me about Lydmarie is that she is so
enthusiastic. She’s so excited about becoming a teacher; she’s
so excited about everything she is learning in her classes.”
Looking forward to her future as a teacher, Spruill plans to teach Language
Arts in the fourth or fifth grades and plans to stay in the Lakeland area.
“My husband and I are established here and I think it’s a
good city to raise children.” Once she has met the established criteria,
Spruill plans to enroll in a Master’s program at USF Lakeland, concentrating
on administration. It is her firm belief that teachers and administrators
have to work together and learning about both ends of education would
enable her to make the best of both worlds.
Spruill is grateful to receive the scholarship and believes that it would
be an advantage to many if there were more scholarships such as this available.
“Every time you find a scholarship, it is going to be cut. That
is one thing that makes you really appreciate something like this scholarship.
There are not a lot of people who get this kind of opportunity. It is
kind of an incentive to attending college. If I would not have gotten
it, I don’t know that I would have made it through college at all.
This is something that people need to go to school. School is just not
affordable without this kind of scholarship.”
For more information about this and other types of scholarships available
on the USF Lakeland campus contact Susie Johnson, Coordinator of Financial
Aid, at (863) 667-7028.
The University of South Florida Lakeland campus, established in 1988,
is a distinctive, locally available University dedicated to providing
state of the art education in a regional setting. Serving Highlands, Hardee,
Eastern Hillsborough and Polk counties, USF Lakeland offers ten undergraduate
degrees, and seven graduate degrees, with partial majors also available.
For scholarship or admission information, please contact USF Lakeland
at (863) 667-7000. Educational excellence is within your reach!
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