August 21, 2006
Pestka, Provart win teaching scholarships
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Two Perry County college students have won scholarships from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Paige R. Pestka of DuBois (24886 Perry County Line Road) and Ashlee A. Provart of Tamaroa (P.O. box listing) each will receive $1,000 through a program aimed at producing math and science teachers.
Co-sponsored by SIUC's College of Education and Human Services and its College of Science with funding from the Boeing Foundation, the Teaching Excellence in Mathematics and Science initiative each year presents scholarships to as many as 20 aspiring teachers with grade-point averages of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
"These students represent some of the best and brightest students at SIUC and represent a positive future for our schools," said project director Trudi L. Volk.
Pestka, a senior and the daughter of Dennis F. and Charlotte L. Pestka, plans to teach science. Provart, a senior and the daughter of Pinckneyville resident Kirk Provart (802 Ritter St.) and Tracy L Davis of Tamaroa, plans to teach elementary school mathematics.
Strengthening the undergraduate scholarship program is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019..