District 59 Educational Foundation awards three $1,000 scholarships and reports $45,000 in support for schools

Marlene Paso, chair of the District 59 Educational Foundation, told the board the foundation has funded $45,000 for the district this year for grants, staff wellbeing resources and back-to-school outreach, and announced three scholarship winners.

Anne Spangler, a retired District 59 teacher who led the scholarship effort, said the foundation awarded three $1,000 scholarships — one each to graduates from Elk Grove, Rolling Meadows and Prospect high schools — after reviewing essays and academic criteria. The winners are Maritza Segura Martinez (Elk Grove), Kira DeVito (Rolling Meadows) and Giselle Velasquez (Prospect). Spangler said the committee selected one student from each high school and that winners also received a small additional gift at the meeting.

Students who accepted the awards described obstacles they had overcome and credited teachers, family and school supports for their success. Giselle Velasquez said being a first‑generation college student and participating in dual‑language programs helped her build the support she needed. Maritza Segura Martinez and Kira DeVito both cited teacher support and inclusion as key to their progress.

Paso described the foundation’s other work: teacher grants for classroom innovation, districtwide access to a Calm app for staff wellbeing, backpacks for the back‑to‑school program, furniture assistance for incoming families and an upcoming “wall of art” featuring student work. She said donors can give via the District 59 website donation page or the foundation’s Facebook and PayPal links.

The board congratulated the winners and thanked the foundation for its support. No formal board action was required.