GiFTS - The Garnder Family Teacher Scholarship - Today's students, tomorrow's teachers - An Educational Endowment

The Gardner Family Teacher Scholarship is available to qualified applicants who plan to teach in a K-12 position in Yavapai County. Several  scholarships for a minimum of $2,500 are awarded each year to help offset tuition and textbook expenses at accredited colleges and universities offering education programs.
The scholarship is open to high school students, undergraduates enrolled in a teaching program as well as to displaced teachers who need additional coursework to stay in their positions.  A person’s potential to be a highly successful classroom teacher is the primary consideration when awarding this scholarship. Financial need may also be considered.

Young adults celebrating graduation

Application & Deadline

Applications for the GIFTS Scholarship are currently closed. Applications for the Gardner Family Teacher Scholarship will be available online during the application period from November 2023 to March 1, 2024. Successful applications will include letters of recommendation and answers to two essay questions. 

 

Awards Reception

2024 Scholarship awards will be given at a reception on April 26, 2024 at 4:00 pm, YCESA 2970 Centerpointe E Dr, Prescott 86301

 Attendance at the Award Ceremony  is mandatory in order to receive the scholarship.

For questions, contact Jenn Nelson at jenn.nelson@yavapaiaz.gov or (928) 442-5138

Donate Today

We are pleased to announce the expansion of an ongoing partnership with the Prescott Sunrise Lions Club. That makes our organization eligible to benefit from their Tax Credit Program! Now you can donate $400.00 if filing individually or $800.00 if filling jointly to the Prescott Sunrise Lions Club Foundation and receive a dollar for dollar tax credit against your Arizona income taxes. Click on the link below and look for the GiFTS link

Donate to GiFTS

Board of Directors

From L to R: Tim Carter,Danny Brown, Corey Gardner, Jodi Rooney, Lance Barnes, Tara O’Neill, Mike Holder, Leslie Horton, Ray Newton 
Not Pictured: Dr. Ron Minnich, Mac Macfarlane

Board
Officers

Founder: The late Gladys Gardner
Retired Arizona State Legislature

President: Danny Brown
Retired Public Educator

Vice President: Cory Gardner
Paramedic

Secretary/Treasurer: Tim Carter
Yavapai County School Superintendent

Board
Members

Lance Barnes
Director, American Heritage Academy – Camp Verde

Jean Knight
Retired Director, Lake Havasu MPO

Heather Leavitt
Associate Professor, Yavapai College

Andy Smith 
Coordinator – Teacher Ed. Programs, Prescott College

Dr. Ron Minnich (Emeritus)
Retired, Yavapai College

 

2023 Gardner Scholarship Recipients 

Past Scholarship Recipients, 2007-2023

 

 
2023

Cory Gross
Kacie Burns
Mariah Harbeson

Guillermo Grimsley
Marian Brock
Andrew Spangler

Dylan Cooper
Michael O’Connell
Elaina Pagliasotti 

Desirae Pitt
Mattingly Middleton
Kaila Bowers
Erica Macomber

2022

Patrick Leon
McKell Gordon
Nicole Wouters

Emily Schuler
Elaina Pagliasotti
Kacie Burns

Cory Gross
Andrea Varela
Desirae Pitt
Mattingly Middelton
Kaila Bowers
2021

Trinidad Pecho Caparachin

Alondra Mendez

Emily Schuler
Peyton Blumstein
Kylie Densmore

Hayley Feipel
Chelsea Henderson
Kacie Burns
Hannah Woodburn
2020Abigail Hanks
Hayley Feipel
Melissa Norman
Jonathan Bailey
Denisha Ozuna
Bethany Pachel
Nichole Carabin
Leslee Presmyk
Kaitlyn Connolly
Stephanie McCaslin
Katie Winter
Emily Schuler
Elah Alvis
Jessica Gaff
Chelsea Henderson
2019Nichole Carabin
Byran Malone
Elah Alvis
Emily Aitken,
Grace Holverson
Hailey McMains
Houston Vaca
Jessica Gaff
Jonathan Bailey
Kaitlyn Connolly
Peyton Blumstein
Tess Di Maria
2018Nichole Carabin, Kayla Carroll,
Peyton Cass
Kaitlyn Connolly,
Beth Courtright Detwiler,
Christina Damko

Nancy Davey Braswell, Kirsten Hillig, Grace Holvreson

Hailey McMains, Carson Sandoval, Chance Weir
2017Elise Anderson,
Grace Holverson,
Sarah Schuler
Sarah Broderick,
Haley Holverson
Angelina Chavez, Jeffrey MaloneNora Graybill, Hailey McMains
2016Caleb Boone, Nora Graybill, Marissa RottnekMelissa Brooks, Haley Holverson, Sarah SchulerAngelina Chavez, Amanda Mikrut, Emily ThomasDebra Earl, Ricky Rodriguez
2015Jessica Adkins, Rachel Harold, Katie RingeAlex Anderson, Kayla Marston,
Delia Sotelo
Nora Graybill, Severin Piper, Ashlee StottsAlexandra Johnson, Ricky Rodriguez
2014Jessica Adkins, Rachel Harold, Katie RingeAlex Anderson, Rebecca Kepner, Candy ShaftDevon Atrip, Kayla Marston, Laura VenturaClaren Fraher,
Christie Olney
2013Jessica Adkins, Crystal Kathe, Katie RingeJenica Artlip, Rebecca Kepner, Cassandra WalkerDevon Atrip, Britney Lawler, Albert ZalfiniKristen Jensen, Cortland Mathers-Suter, Marissa Ziering
2012Jenica Artlip, Rebecca Kepner, Debby SchoenfeldNathaniel Hald, Tabitha King, Sally StolzChristina Jones, Ashly Lawler, Jill WagnerCrystal Kathe, Tanya Padilla-Melton, Albert Zalfini
2011Jenica Artlip, Susan Lemieux-Luque, Grace SummersJeremy DeRois, Jasmin Licavoil, Jennifer TurnerChristina Horn, Hannah MarcumAshley Law;er, RJ Mayer
2010Morgan Dubs, William Hogue, Christine PennerShannon Erickson, Erik Juarez, Jill WagnerRamsay Fornara, Tabitha KingJonathan Hannah, Amy Kuntz
2009Jonathan Hannah, Christine Penner, Susan TurnerNicole Hutchinson, Brianna RadeSusan Lemieux-Luque,
Cassandra Spleiss
Melanie Olstadt, Brian Tankesley
2008Scott Fitterer, Erik Juarez, Kelly SmithMelanie Goldsmith, Kristin Peña, Susan TurnerMaria Haag, Jessica PiotterKallie Haddow-Cashatt, Dayna Sherrill
2007Sierra Dye, Kallie Haddow, Alexandra WardScott Fitterer, Sarah PomeroyMelanie Goldsmith, Amanda ReelWhitney Grovenstein, Kelly Smith

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

– Benjamin Franklin

History of the Gardner Family Teacher Scholarship

Gladys Gardner

The scholarship was founded by the late Gladys Gardner with an initial gift of $100,000 by the Gardner Family Trust. Mrs. Gardner led a distinguished career that began as a teacher in a one-room school in Texas.  She also served in several elected positions, including as a State Representative in the Arizona State Legislature (1965-1974) and was the first woman elected to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors (1981-1988). In all of her roles, education was her primary focus.

Today, the scholarship is administered as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The mission, as ever, is to support quality education in Yavapai County with a number of scholarships awarded annually to students in Yavapai County who wish to pursue teaching degrees. The scholarships are intended for tuition and textbook expenses at accredited colleges and universities offering education programs. The Gardner Family Teacher Scholarship also supports programs intended to promote the teaching profession and improve the quality of teaching in Yavapai County.

Contact Us

The Gardner Family Teacher Scholarship
2970 Centerpointe East Drive
Prescott, AZ 86301
(928) 442-5138