| Foundation Breakfast Raises Money, Focuses on Future |
 One of Westminster High School’s most successful graduates returned to Westminster this month to ask members of the District 50 Education Foundation to keep on giving and keep on caring. That message carried the day as the Foundation raised more than $24,000 to support scholarships for high school seniors and creativity grants for District 50 staff. 1955 graduate Don Bonker served as the keynote speaker for the morning breakfast at Westminster High School. Bonker served in congress for seven terms from the state of Washington and now represents an international public affairs and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. “I’d like to come back and take some classes here,” he joked as he commented on the beauty of the new high school. He was joined at the event by several classmates who graduated with him 58 years ago when the high school and the Westminster community were very different. Bonker said the visit prompted a lot of fond memories, but he also brought a serious message to the event. He warned that the United States was losing its “preeminence in the world” because students in other parts of the world place a much higher value on education. “You can tell by the look on their faces,” he said. Bonker praised the Foundation for its commitment to supporting the financial needs of students going on to college. “For a lot of people without a scholarship and without aid, that opportunity is going to be very limited,” he said. “I love your theme about the heart and opportunity.” Many past recipients were on hand to tell the audience first-hand accounts of how the foundation helped them to pursue college dreams or, in the case of teachers, to enhance their students’ classroom learning. Among them was 2009 graduate Evelyn Flores. She told the audience she was honored to come back and share her story with the foundation. Evelyn is attending the University of Colorado at Denver and is studying to become a nurse. She thanked the audience for their support, which she said allowed her to focus on her studies during her freshman year and not have to worry about paying her bills. “I would never be where I am without the help of this community,” she said. Foundation Executive Director Christy Dodd was pleased by the event. "The community and district support for the Foundation is phenomenal and its very rewarding to highlight was the foundation has done for our staff and students,” she said. Click below to see some of the highlights. |
| Posted February 28, 2013 |
