Memorial scholarship honors former teacher
Liz Nelson is remembered as “always upbeat, loving and laughing.”
Nelson taught English at Whitefish High School from 1975 to 2003 and was an AFS advisor. She was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s before passing away last year.
A new memorial scholarship to honor Nelson seeks to assist graduates pursuing careers in education.
“She was loved by everybody,” said former teacher Cheryl Beck. “She was dedicated to teaching and had a commitment to education. She was sensitive to her students even outside of the classroom.”
Childhood friends and family of Nelson created the Liz Nelson Memorial Scholarship. Although the fund was set up in California, the money will go to two scholarships for WHS seniors.
Beck said the scholarship is a way to honor her commitment to education.
“She would be amazed by this,” Beck said. “She was a humble person.”
Norma MacKenzie and Nancy Nei, teachers who also worked with Nelson, remember her fondly.
Nei recalled that when Nelson taught freshman English she would keep all the writings of her individual students and later present their work to them as seniors.
“She truly befriended her students,” she said. “She always treated her students as individuals that deserved respect, and they responded in kind.”
MacKenzie called Nelson a wonderful friend who was her mentor when she started at the high school.
“She made whatever was happening enjoyable for all,” she said. “She was kind, gentle and welcoming, and made her students feel valuable, loved and important.”
The $500 scholarships require students to be pursuing a degree in teaching. The scholarships are renewable if the students maintain a 3.0 GPA and continue to work toward a career in education. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is April 26.
To donate to the scholarship fund, send checks to Premier Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 8929, Stockton, CA 95208. Include Liz Nelson Memorial Scholarship in the memo line of the check.
For more information, contact counselor Barb Mansfield at 862-8600.