Debbie Laney Education Scholarship
1954-2021
Debbie Laney taught at Pleasant Hill Elementary School for 20 years. She was an amazing person and extraordinary teacher. She especially enjoyed teaching primary grades and got a thrill when her students "got it" when first learning to read. She employed new and innovative ways to teach math and shared that knowledge with other educators by leading math workshops for teachers. This scholarship is dedicated to her memory and her desire to inspire and enable Pleasant Hill students to explore a career in Education or Early Childhood Development.
One scholarship in the amount of $500 will be awarded to honor the example Mrs. Laney gave to all of us. These scholarships will be used to support the academic and life goals of a Pleasant Hill Billie exploring a career in Education or Early Childhood Education.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
The scholarship is for a Pleasant Hill High School senior planning to attend a 2 or 4 year college to study Education and/or Early Childhood Education or Math/Stem focused degrees. Students must be starting the fall immediately after graduation. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to apply.
HOW DO I APPLY?
The following items need to be completed in order to apply:
1. Scholarship Application Form
2. Transcript (the Board will reach out to Clarrissa Anderson in the High School Counseling Office to obtain a copy of your transcript)
3. OSAC Activities Chart
4. 500-700 word essay that describes a teacher or experience that was pivotal in your decision to pursue a career in education.
5. Letter of recommendation from a coach, teacher, advisor, mentor, or boss.
WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS DUE?
Completed items above should be emailed in one PDF to amckee@phillfoundation.org by Friday May 2nd, 2025.
WHAT CRITERIA IS USED TO SELECT A WINNER?
These scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis based on the following score weighting used by the scholarship selection committee and board:
45% - Narrative essay
30% - Extracurricular activities and/or work experience
15% - Involvement in community service
10% - GPA
WHEN WILL NOTIFICATIONS TAKE PLACE?
The Pleasant Hill Education Foundation scholarship selection committee and board will review the applications in May. Candidates will be chosen, and notification will be given to the Pleasant Hill High School Principal and Counselor. The scholarship recipient will be announced at the Awards Night in June or via email.
QUESTIONS?
Email amckee@phillfoundation.org or call 541-736-0759.
Remembering Debbie
Debbie Laney was born in Eugene, Oregon, in 1954. Even as a young girl, she valued education and the role it played in improving people's lives. She saved her babysitting money to put herself through college at the University of Oregon and graduated as a teacher.
Debbie was passionate about helping students internalize and apply math. Instead of memorization, void of deep number sense, she used games and hands on materials to help students understand how numbers worked and see themselves as mathematicians. She taught workshops across the country to teach other teachers how to implement these techniques in their own classrooms, thus impacting thousands upon thousands of students throughout the United States.
Debbie spent the majority of her teaching career in Pleasant Hill Elementary School teaching primary grades. She particularly loved first grade and relished helping students learn to read.
Debbie Laney is remembered for her kindness, generosity, volunteer service in the community, and as an example of a life-long learner.
