Bridgepoint Education subsidiary Ashford University proudly sponsors San Diego County 7th Annual Teacher Appreciation Night at Petco Park

The San Diego County Office of Education honored a number of individuals in the highly respected teaching profession as 2008 Teachers of the Year. Bridgepoint subsidiary Ashford University also took the opportunity to award scholarships to four deserving teachers from our community. Each was given a full scholarship in the Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology program (MATLT).

MATLT is a 30 credit online degree program designed to develop teachers’ skills and effectiveness in using technology tools in curriculum building, leadership skills and instruction. It prepares teachers for rewarding careers as professional educators with the technological skills necessary to meet the ever-changing needs of students. In order to have been selected for the scholarship, area teachers were required to submit a letter of nomination from their school principal, a letter of recommendation from a colleague, and a personal essay addressing such issues as how his or her vision of integrating technology would impact student achievement.

Ultimately, a committee representing Bridgepoint subsidiary Ashford University chose the scholarship winners and all were recognized during a San Diego Padre pre-game, on-field, ceremony. Ashford University president, Jane McAuliffe, made the presentations – awarding each recipient a beautifully framed certificate. “I loved the experience at Petco Park!” says Tiffany Slocomb, a 2nd grade teacher at the Poway School District’s Monterey Ridge Elementary School in the 4S Ranch community.

In addition to Tiffany, three other San Diego County teachers received an AU scholarship. Michele Ferrusi, a Title One teacher for the District, teaches Reading to Kindergarten through 8th grade readers and ESL learners; Jay Hendricks, a 9th grade Biology teacher at Rancho Bernardo High School in Rancho Bernardo; and Catherine Jaravata, a 9th through 12th grade Filipino World Language teacher at Mt. Carmel High School in Rancho Penasquitos. “To be able to give back to our community in this way means so much to us here at AU,” says McAuliffe. “I, for one, could not be more proud than I am already to work for Ashford University – an organization that’s committed to the continued success of our children. In my opinion, there’s no group more deserving than our hard-working teachers.”

Bridgepoint Education

Based in San Diego, Bridgepoint Education was founded on the principle that anyone who is academically prepared deserves access to higher education without sacrificing quality, transferability of credits, accessibility, academic standards, or credentials. As an independent, private higher education company, Bridgepoint is committed to servicing the millions of adults seeking an affordable alternative to high priced higher education. Bridgepoint Education subsidiaries provide both traditional and online education offerings, in addition to recruiting and admissions services. Our comprehensive education services have helped thousands of students improve their lives and careers through higher education. Bridgepoint Education was named by Inc. magazine as the fastest growing private education company in the United States. For more information, please visit us at www.bridgepointeducation.com or contact: Shari Rodriguez, Director of Public Relations, at 800.798.0584, extension 2513.