Many people do not realize the importance of community, but a community is often what makes a home feel like home and what brings people to want to live there. One great example of community in Celina can be seen in the partnership between our school district and the Celina Education Foundation (CEF). Founded in 1992, CEF (formerly CARE) supports our schools at all levels by providing grants to our teachers and in scholarships provided to our senior class.
“Being able to see a small group of ladies in partnership with our community, bless our seniors, our staff and teachers by making a better learning environment for our students is pretty cool,” explained CEF President Jennifer Thomas (Since 2019) because “many hands make light work.”
As the school district and the learning needs of its students continues to grow, CEF continues to create things such as the Grants for Great Ideas program that rewards creativity in our teachers to develop ideas that can improve student engagement and learning by funding those ideas to make them a reality.
Each year CEF provides scholarships funded by the foundation as well as outside organizations to help graduating seniors continue their educational studies at college/trade schools.CEF partners with local organizations and donors to pair graduating seniors with scholarships to help fund their future education goals.
Celina resident and Escrow Officer at Fidelity National Title, Dana Draper, who herself received a scholarship when she graduated in 1998 believes “it is significant and impactful because it helps to give students an opportunity at higher learning which is so important to their future in getting the career they want.”
Dana believes that “CEF gives scholarships to students that they often don’t even know. I was able to pay for the first two years of community college and my first half year at Tarleton. I am so grateful for what it allowed me to accomplish.”
Each April CEF holds a Denims and Diamonds Gala in Celina that serves as the main fundraising opportunity of the year. Funds raised allow them to continue their mission of improving education in Celina by providing teachers and students with the resources they need to keep Celina ISD one of best districts in the area.
The long-term impact Celina Education Foundation is making on our students, teachers and our community will create a better more productive society for all.
CelinaEducationFoundation.org