12.21.22

How scholarships create ripples of good

Jamie Lansang knows an education is what allows you to shape your future, and as she stands at the front of her third-grade class, it’s clear she finds joy in sharing that passion with her students. As the lead teacher in the classroom, she makes a positive difference in her students’ lives every day, and as a scholarship recipient, she knows exactly how impactful it is to have someone help you reach your dreams.

Lansang’s journey to the front of the classroom is untraditional, which may be what makes her so beloved by her students. When her own children began school, she took a job as a para educator so she could have a similar schedule. Through the years, she became an expert at helping students overcome behavioral challenges, and finally decided to begin her college degree at the urging of her principle.

“I always had an excuse not to get my degree – my kids, my husband, my job. But as my kids got older, I started to think about how I would tell them to go to college if I hadn’t shown them,” she said. “When I found out I received a scholarship, it made me feel valued and appreciated that someone gave money to help me achieve my career and my dream.”

That someone was Debbie Smith, and they recently had the chance to meet in person, which left both grinning from ear to ear.

“It means a lot to meet someone who is helping your reach your goals,” said Lansang. “It’s special to be able to look at a person and say thank you.”

Smith first fell in love with education when she began studying speech and language pathology at Wichita State University in the late 70s, and she’s passionately pursued it ever since. From taking night classes to working in the Wichita School District and as a court appointed special advocate, she knows what it means to have someone in your corner. Her lifetime of experience is what led her to create the Debra K. Smith Scholarship for students in the Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) in the College of Applied Studies, which helps para educators complete their degrees to become lead teachers.  

“I’ve worked with a lot of paraprofessionals over the years, and they are unwavering in their support of kids,” said Smith. “When I found out about TAP, I thought that was exactly what we needed.”

Smith’s scholarship is creating a ripple of educational impact, reaching far beyond the scholarship recipient. “I’m able to be here every day and make a difference in my students’ lives because of this,” said Lansang. “Scholarships have a ripple effect – it impacts me, my family and my students. It goes deeper than just money; it makes a difference in education.”