2024 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Finalists
We are thrilled at the way the Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Teacher Scholarships continue to grow! Each year, we award $10,000 to aid future educators on their teaching journey, with one $5,000 scholarship going to to an aspiring elementary school teacher and one $5,000 scholarship going to an aspiring secondary school teacher. In 2024, we received applications from over 115 colleges and universities, in 39 different states.
Entrants were asked to record a short video telling us about a teacher who inspired them and what they learned from that teacher that they would like to pass on to the students they will teach. From the many excellent submissions received from around the country, five finalists were chosen for each category. All will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and one year of free access to any of our Core Plus Online Prep Programs to help them pass credentialing exams such as the Praxis, CSET or FTCE.
Our finalists this year moved and uplifted us with their tales of teachers from all spheres of life. While the subject of each story made a difference in their own unique way, they all exhibit two common traits: a passion for their work and a strong commitment to helping others succeed. Guided by these powerful examples, we have no doubt that all of our finalists will go on to forge positive change in the classroom and touch the lives of their own future students.
2024 ELEMENTARY EDUCATION RECIPIENT
Brooke Blacknall (Spelman College, GA)
Teacher: Mrs. Olivia Blacknall
“When students are passionate about what they’re learning about, they really have a motivation to push through and persevere.”
Being homeschooled by her mom, Olivia Blacknall, taught Brooke not only the importance of having a strong foundation of knowledge, but also the power of connecting that subject matter learning to students’ interests and the community in which they live. While she may not be able to take her class on all the field trips she enjoyed with her mom, she nonetheless aims to create experiences tailored to her students’ interests through “in classroom fieldtrips.”
2024 ELEMENTARY EDUCATION FINALISTS
Cynthia Covington (Tallahassee Community College, FL)
Teacher: Mrs. M.F. Mathis
“I try to reach the hearts of all my learners the way Mrs. Mathis did me, consistently providing loving guidance and a fine example.”
Mrs. Mathis was a well-dressed woman who tapped her ruler on the desk, commanding the class’s attention, but she was also gentle when taking individual students aside to discuss inappropriate behavior. She had clear expectations and insisted every child give their best. In reflecting on Mrs. Mathis over the years, Cynthia Covington realized that this early educational influence not only provided a sense of stability for her as a gifted student living through a volatile childhood, but also provided a role model to a future educator.
Samantha Jones (Vanguard University of Southern California, CA)
Teacher: Mr. David Laughrea
“What I liked about Mr. Laughrea was that he always found the good in my work, even when my answers were completely wrong.”
When it came to math, high schooler Samantha Jones felt defeated and looked down on. But her math teacher, Mr. Laughrea, changed all that. Whether or not she got an answer right, he encouraged her critical thinking and applauded her strong work ethic. He never labeled a student as bad at math, but simply told them they hadn’t solved a particular problem… yet. As an educator, Samantha wants to carry forward this “growth mindset,” always celebrating students’ accomplishments, no matter how small.
Cora Lau (Pepperdine University, CA)
Teacher: Ms. Mahelona
“She would smile at me, and … she would ask me how many weeds I pulled, or how many bunches I made. And this always made me feel really valid.”
In kindergarten, Cora Lau was an independent kid who enjoyed spending time on her own. At recess, she would explore the edges of the playground or pull weeds. But adults often pushed her to play with the other kids, even though she didn’t want to, and this led her to begin feeling that she was different in a bad way. However, her teacher, Ms. Mahelona, made her feel loved exactly as she was and free to be herself. Cora’s desire to help other kids feel that same way inspired her to become a teacher.
Sarah Olson (Palm Beach Atlantic University, FL)
Teacher: Mrs. Andrea McGeorge
“I was not just coming in as a new student. I was an old student as well. I was coming from somewhere and I was coming with experiences and knowledge, and she saw that.”
As a kid, Sarah Olson dreaded moving overseas to a different school and having to start all over. That is until her new teacher, Mrs. George, invited her to make a presentation to the class about Turkey and what it’s like to be a military kid. This helped her quickly make new friends, but even more importantly, allowed her to feel she had something to offer the class. In her own classroom, Sarah wants to ensure each student feels seen and knows their unique experiences are valued.
2024 SECONDARY EDUCATION RECIPIENT
Crystal Franco (National University, CA)
Teacher: Mr. Paul Karrer
“He brought life back to students who, at a young age, already felt defeated or unsupported by other teachers or classes.”
Growing up as the child of migrant farm workers, Crystal Franco recalls that she, and many students like her, often felt overlooked. But her 4th grade teacher, Mr. Karrer, wouldn’t let these children slip through the cracks simply because of their background or difficulty speaking English. He found ways to connect with both students and parents, and he didn’t just teach content, he also taught every child to be seen and valued. Now, Crystal is fueled by this same relentless desire to help marginalized students discover their full potential.
2024 SECONDARY EDUCATION FINALISTS
Chynna Martinez (Alliant International University, CA)
Teacher: Ms. Gina Cameron
“First day of sophomore year, and I saw her, and my little 14-year-old eyes were like ‘this is the coolest person I’ve ever seen.’”
Black docs, dark eyeliner, a Pink Floyd t-shirt. But Ms. Cameron wasn’t a punk-rocker out to topple the establishment; she was a high school teacher. Then again, maybe she was a bit of both. Like many of her classmates, Chynna Martinez had grown up with the idea that girls should be “quiet and feminine.” But Ms. Cameron was unabashedly herself. She taught them it wasn’t just ok to be a smart and opinionated woman—it was cool. Chynna now carries this same bold energy with her as she prepares to enter her own classroom.
Jazmyn McCallum (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC)
Teacher: Ms. Sabrina Smithey
“I noticed there was a shift in their treatment towards me, and I couldn’t blame them. How do you talk to a child who’s experiencing grief at such a young age?”
After the loss of her older sister, first-grade student Jazmyn McCallum began to withdraw. The situation was only made worse when teachers and other students began to treat her differently, unsure how to relate after such a tragedy. But her second-grade teacher, Ms. Smithey, refused to treat her with pity. She was warm and encouraging toward Jazmyn, as she was with all her students. But she also had the same high expectations for her, pushing her to achieve and showing her she was capable of more than she realized.
Sean McReynolds (Concordia University Chicago, IL)
Teacher: Mr. Jacob Benke
“Welcome to Walter Christian Academy in Melrose Park, Illinois… this is where I’ll be interviewing the person who has inspired me to become a teacher.”
Mr. Benke held mock Olympic games. He had students make propaganda posters for Roman emperors. He even used the dodgeball court to illustrate trench warfare. For high school student Sean McReynolds, these activities were so much fun, they inspired him to become a teacher himself. In this video, Sean returns to his alma mater to share his memories and get some teaching advice from his favorite educator, gaining a valuable insight: many of Mr. Benke’s creative activities were inspired by his favorite teachers.
Rodney Zinyemba (Dominican University of California, CA)
Teacher: Mr. Mike Cohen
“He always valued everybody’s excitement about engineering and how amazing it was, with his experience from Raytheon. And actually, it felt like we were like Raytheon engineers in his class.”
Recently immigrated from Zimbabwe and trying to acclimate to life in the US, Rodney Zinyemba found a mentor in his high school engineering teacher, Mr. Cohen. He would give the class challenging real-world projects, like building digital clocks, self-driving ATVs, and even robots, and he encouraged their enthusiasm. Rodney went on to study Chemical Engineering and had a career in the private sector. But now he feels drawn to teach, so he can share his passion and be a role model to others, just as Mr. Cohen was to him.
