About / May09 / 2009 PEO Fellowship

May 19, 2009
For immediate release

Nicole DeLeon of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School receives inaugural P.E.O. scholarship from local chapter

Nicole DeLeon, a teacher credential candidate in UC Santa Barbara’s Teacher Education Program at the Gevirtz School, was named the inaugural recipient of the PEO International Scholarship awarded by the local chapter of one of the pioneer societies for women. DeLeon is studying for her single subject teaching credential in art.

In her application for the scholarship DeLeon wrote, quoting from the PEO guidelines along the way: “I believe my mission as a teacher is aligned with the PEO mission in that I truly believe one person can change the world and that ‘demonstrating true care and concern for others’ is a teacher’s primary imperative. Currently, I student teach a color and design class at Dos Pueblos High School. One of my premiere goals is to be a positive role model for my female students simply by showing compassion and attention to each of their individual learning needs. My experiences on the surf team and later as international surf instructor have driven me ‘to motivate women to achieve their highest aspirations.’ As a young, educated woman with many life experiences to share with my students, I feel I can model what ambition, confidence, and equality look like.”

P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) was founded in 1869 by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Originally a small campus friendship society, P.E.O. soon blossomed to include women off campus. Today, P.E.O. has grown from that tiny membership of seven to almost a quarter of a million members in chapters in the United States and Canada. The P.E.O. Sisterhood is passionate about its mission: promoting educational opportunities for women.

[Nicole DeLeon is available for interviews; contact George Yatchisin at 805 893 5789]
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Nicole DeLeon of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School receives inaugural P.E.O. scholarship from local chapter