Schools
Barrington High Seniors Named Golden Apple Scholars
Golden Apple Scholar Leslie Martin said a mission trip to Detroit inspired her to become a teacher at an inner-city school.
It’s not an easy feat to accomplish, but is the home of two 2012 Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois.
Seniors Leslie Martin and Deena Davis were among only 130 students selected for this prestigious honor from more than 1,000 nominees.
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According to the Golden Apple Scholars website, the program “recruits and prepares a diverse group of bright and talented high school graduates and college sophomores who have the promise for successful careers as excellent teachers in high-need schools throughout Illinois.”
Winner Leslie Martin said the application process was no easy task.
Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We had to write eight essays,” she said. “We got a packet in the mail. They were all kind of like, who was the most influential teacher you had and why. Why do you want to be a teacher other than the fact that you like kids.”
The Golden Apple Scholars must earn an undergraduate degree at an Illinois university that participates in the program, where they will earn their teacher’s certification. The program awards the students tuition assistance of $2,500 for their freshman and sophomore years, and $5,000 for junior and senior years. After graduation, they must spend five years teaching in a high-needs Illinois school.
Martin, who is also the founder of the at Barrington High School, has had a passion for teaching since her freshman year. That year, she took an unforgettable mission trip to Detroit that changed her for the better.
“That’s when I decided I wanted to be a teacher at an inner-city school,” she said. “It was cool to work with all those kids. I just thought it was amazing how much these kids impact your life and how much you impact theirs.”
Part of the Golden Apple Scholars program requires students to attend a summer institute. Martin will be at DePaul University for six weeks over the summer helping in a Chicago Public Schools classroom.
Once the summer ends, she’ll head on to the University of Illinois to begin her undergraduate studies.
Congratulations to Martin from the Patch community!
Barrington Patch will also profile Golden Apple Scholar Deena Davis. Check back next week for her story.
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