Lesaya Howard receives the
Michael Scott DeSheilds Scholarship
The intent of the memorial scholarship is to financially assist a deserving high school senior with the will to succeed. This was typified by Michael Scott DeShields, Montgomery High School class of 1984.
In memory of Michael, this scholarship is dedicated and presented with the hope that, perhaps just one person, given this opportunity, will make a difference by contributing to the advancement of national and/or international understanding and peace.
The criteria for the Michael Scott DeShields scholarship has been modified after 20+ years. With Kent Seegmiller's help Carolyn Anderson and Ross Andress wrote the new criteria to find students that have defined their goals and have already started working toward reaching them. It worked as they hoped, it uncovered a gem. They found Lesaya Howard from Elsie Allen High School.
Lesaya wants to be a park ranger. She realized that her passion is to be involved with the environment while going to the OWL Camp and Land Passes Bayer Farm. At the OWL Camp she worked her way up the ladder as a leader showing younger kids to the beauty of being in the woods. She enjoyed seeing the faces of the younger kids as they dicscovered something new in the forest.
Lesaya joined the FFA at Elsie Allen and started taking classes that would help reach her goals. Joining the FFA turned her life around and it became clear to her that she had to be involved with helping others appreciate the environment.
Her primary goal is to become a Park Ranger and give deaf people mountain tours. To do this Lesaya is becoming certified in Sign Language.
Lesaya will be attending Humboldt State in the fall and has promised to keep us posted on her success.
