Vista Teachers Association Scholarship Fund
The VTASF is virtually unique in California—a scholarship fund that rewards hundreds of students who are not our own dependents. And every teacher in this Association can be proud of that fact. The students need your help NOW.
As teachers we give so much time and effort to our students as they pass through our classes, from elementary school through high school. Indeed, it is our job to promote learning and motivate them to do their best. The VTASF allows us the added opportunity to provide some monetary encouragement to deserving students, a tangible demonstration of our support.
All graduating seniors in VUSD are eligible for VTA Scholarships, as well as children of VTA members, regardless of where they attend high school. In addition, the Post-Secondary Scholarships are available only for college-age dependents of VTA members. If each of the non-contributing members were to donate even $3 tenthly, we could provide another $20,000! There are NO administrative costs in the Fund—every tax-deductible dollar collected goes to students.
VTA Scholarships are only possible because of the continued generosity of current and retired bargaining unit members, along with some incredibly special members of Administration and the community. Thank you, one and all for enabling VTASF to contribute $42,000 in 2022.
Since 1988, VTASF has provided $927,000 to 3000 deserving recipients.
Perhaps a voluntary teachers association scholarship fund isn’t exactly unique. However, VTASF is exceptional in several ways:
· Only about a third of the total money distributed each year goes to teacher dependents; the majority is given to graduating seniors at Vista’s high schools.
· Dependents are allowed to apply an additional three years after high school graduation.
· A $200 scholarship is set aside yearly for a graduating senior from each of the district’s three continuation high schools.
· $400 is provided yearly to the high school for the handicapped for students who need financial help for wheelchair repair, field trips, etc.
For 30 years, I have stressed that it’s more important that teachers participate, not how much they contribute. A few dollars monthly, multiplied by several hundred can provide some recognition to students who might otherwise receive none at all. Several recipients each year are the first in their family to graduate from high school, and many more the first to attend college. A frequent theme is financial need, not for dormitory accommodations or incidentals, but for the very basics like tuition or books.
The teachers of Vista, like teachers everywhere, can be proud of their efforts to help their students along their individual paths. I’d like to think that we in Vista have gone way beyond.
Paul Farrar
VTASF Chair
(Retired Teacher, 2004)
pfarr222@yahoo.com
Since 1988, VTASF has provided $927,000 to 3000 deserving recipients.
Perhaps a voluntary teachers association scholarship fund isn’t exactly unique. However, VTASF is exceptional in several ways:
· Only about a third of the total money distributed each year goes to teacher dependents; the majority is given to graduating seniors at Vista’s high schools.
· Dependents are allowed to apply an additional three years after high school graduation.
· A $200 scholarship is set aside yearly for a graduating senior from each of the district’s three continuation high schools.
· $400 is provided yearly to the high school for the handicapped for students who need financial help for wheelchair repair, field trips, etc.
For 30 years, I have stressed that it’s more important that teachers participate, not how much they contribute. A few dollars monthly, multiplied by several hundred can provide some recognition to students who might otherwise receive none at all. Several recipients each year are the first in their family to graduate from high school, and many more the first to attend college. A frequent theme is financial need, not for dormitory accommodations or incidentals, but for the very basics like tuition or books.
The teachers of Vista, like teachers everywhere, can be proud of their efforts to help their students along their individual paths. I’d like to think that we in Vista have gone way beyond.
Paul Farrar
VTASF Chair
(Retired Teacher, 2004)
pfarr222@yahoo.com