Brown Foundation Scholarship Program
for Educational Equality and Excellence

Lucinda Todd Book Awards

After careful consideration, The Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research Scholarship Committee has decided to discontinue book awards for high school seniors effective October 2006. The Brown Foundation remains committed to helping future educators. We are shifting our funding focus to academic scholarships. The Brown Foundation will continue to provide scholarships to minority students during their junior and senior years in college, who are majoring in education.

The Brown Foundation congratulates all past recipients of our scholarship program. We commend and encourage those students currently working towards careers in education.

2006 Recipients

The Foundation received 149 applications for the 2006 award cycle.

Tyesha Deas
Sumter, SC
Ms. Deas was involved in National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America and Mu Alpha Theta at Lakewood High School. She plans to attend the University of South Carolina and major in Mathematics Education. She plans to teach at the high school level.

Jasmine Delaine
Sulphur, LA
Ms. Delaine is a recent graduate of Sulphur High School and will attend McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA, and majoring in Early Childhood Education for both undergraduate and masters coursework. She hopes to teach kindergarten.

April Rose Ledesma
San Antonio, TX
Ms. Ledesma was salutatorian at Business Careers High School. She plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin where she will pursue teacher certification in high school chemistry.

Phylicia McCorkle
Cincinatti, OH
Ms. McCorkle is a recent graduate of Winton Woods High School and will be attending Bowling Green State University in the fall of 2006.

Gina Rose Ortiz
Oceanside, CA
Ms. Ortiz was involved in community service, participated in varsity cheerleading and soccer. She will be attending California State University San Marcos and majoring in liberal studies and elementary education. Her plans are to teach kindergarten through third grade special education students.

Shontay A. Osterman-Bailey
Chapman, KS
Ms. Osterman received academic and presidential awards, including the Family and Consumer Science Student of the Year Award, Female Student of the month and High honor roll. She plans to attend Emporia State University and major in Early Childhood Education with a possible focus in Special Education. Shontay hopes to own her own Early Childhood Care facility.

Jewelin Roxanne Patulot
Stone Mountain, GA
Ms. Patulot plans to attend the University of Georgia and major in early childhood Education. She plans to become a third grade teacher.

Maurisa D. Thomas
Paterson, NJ
Ms. Thomas graduated from Rosa Parks Arts High School in the top third of her class, was a member of the National Honor Society, student government and many other organizations. She will major in History Education at the College of New Jersey. She plans to teach high school and eventually because an educational administrator or professor.

Laura Valdmanis
Prior Lake, MN
Ms. Valdmanis volunteered as a math tutor and has been a camp counselor. She will attend Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, NY. Her plans include becoming a math teacher.

Qing Zhao
New York, NY
Ms. Zhao was valedictorian of her class at Baruch College Campus High School and business manager of her school newspaper. She will be attending Cornell University. She plans to become an elementary level teacher.

See also previous recipients: 2004 | 2005.