Award-Winning Essay Tells Story of Courage, Determination
Attributes High School Graduation to Teacher Support and Innovative Online
Education Program
CHANDLER, Ariz., June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- "I was abandoned at
12, and divorced at 16. Now I'm graduating on time and excited about life
after high school. NovaNET is a big reason for that."
Cyndi Bishline of Liberty Hill, Texas, the Grand Prize winner of
Pearson's 2008 NovaNET essay contest, will read her award-winning entry of
courage and determination at the National Educational Computing Conference
(NECC), June 29-July 2 in San Antonio, Texas. Her moving story tells how at
twelve years old her father passed away and her mother left her. She relied
on friends for a place to live, and soon after, met and moved in with her
future husband.
"I decided to drop out of school my freshman year to start working as
much as possible to help support us," Cyndi writes in her award-winning
essay. "I never imagined how hard life was until I was forced to live in
the real world at such an early age. It can be so easy to dig yourself into
a hole, and when you finally realize that you want out, you pray that
someone is there on the other side waiting to help you. Fortunately, that
was my situation."
Cyndi eventually decided that she wanted to go back to school, but her
husband was against the idea. "I didn't want to wake up one day to find it
was too late for me ... so I decided to pack up everything I owned, leave
everyone I ever loved, move hours away to go back to high school, and get
my life back on the right track."
Enrolling in Liberty Hill High School, Cyndi soon learned about the
NovaNET program. "Although I was supposed to be a junior, I only had the
credits of a freshman," she writes. Working hard, "I was able to complete
13 NovaNET courses, and was so proud of myself. I will never forget the day
that I was told I would be able to graduate on time and would have a
'regular' senior year."
Cyndi also writes of the two "incredible teachers" she met, "Mr.
Cosgrove and Ms. Vickers. They never let me give up ... they showed so much
love for me that it took so much of my bitterness away. I will take that
with me wherever I go in life."
"NovaNET played a big part in helping Cyndi find both academic and
personal success; in turn, she began to see the potential she possesses as
a human being," said her teacher Jannie Vickers.
Liberty Hill High School program director John Cosgrove explained,
"Using NovaNET as our curriculum focus gave us the opportunity to spend
more time working with Cyndi on important life lessons without sacrificing
quality instruction."
Cosgrove and Vickers, described by Cyndi as her "surrogate parents,"
will accompany her to the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC)
in San Antonio where she will read her winning essay at a special event
sponsored by Pearson. Additionally, she will be the recipient of a college
scholarship to be funded by Pearson employees with a matching contribution
from the company.
"This program absolutely changed my life. I truly believe that without
NovaNET I would have dropped out of high school for good," Cyndi says.
"Instead, I'm getting ready to graduate and preparing to enroll in college
in the fall. My goal is to earn my bachelors degree in fashion and retail
management." Cyndi will attend Austin Community College.
"When we hear stories like Cyndi's, it validates the work that our
organization does on behalf of the many high school students in need of
alternative learning opportunities as they pursue their high school
diploma," said Pearson's senior vice president Karl Gustafson. "Cyndi won
the scholarship because her story demonstrated the power of determination,
courage, and perseverance. We are honored to have played a small part in
her success, and look forward to helping her achieve her educational goals
as she moves on to college."
Through the NovaNET essay contest, students are asked to write on a
specific topic tied to how NovaNET improved their lives and helped them
reach their goals or graduation or equivalent. This year's theme was "Give
Me Some Credit." To see all essay finalists, go to
http://www.pearsondigital.com/credit.
About NovaNET
Designed for grades 6-12, NovaNET is a comprehensive, online courseware
system that helps struggling students recover lost credits, increases
graduation rates and reduces dropout rates, challenges advanced students
who want to move ahead, and it prepares students for state and standardized
tests. NovaNET also provides individualized learning at a distance. From
delivering thousands of hours of research and standards-based, interactive
curriculum, to integrated assessment and student management, NovaNET is an
all-inclusive system that delivers a return on investment quickly. For more
information, go to http://www.novanet.com.
About Pearson
Pearson (NYSE: PSO) is the global leader in educational publishing,
assessment, information and services, helping people of all ages to learn
at their own pace, in their own way. For students preK-12, Pearson provides
effective and innovative curriculum products in all available media,
educational assessment and measurement for students and teachers, student
information systems, and teacher professional development and certification
programs. Our respected brands include NovaNET, SuccessMaker, Waterford,
KnowledgeBox, Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, AGS, PowerSchool,
TeacherVision and many others. Our comprehensive offerings help inform
targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of
every student. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial
Times Group and the Penguin Group.
SOURCE Pearson
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Related links:
http://www.pearsoned.com
http://www.novanet.com
http://www.pearsondigital.com/credit
CONTACT:
Matt Murphy of Pearson, +1-480-457-6024,
Matt.Murphy@Pearson.com
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