D.J. Wattam Scholarship
In 2007, former Missoula residents Donald and Marni Wattam and their son, D.J., founded the D.J. Wattam Scholarship endowment to recognize UM student paraeducators who work at the Co-Teach Preschool. The Wattam's $25,000 endowment was established through UM’s historic $100 million campaign, "Invest in Discovery." Each year an outstanding Co-Teach Preschool paraeducator will be awarded the D.J. Wattam Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.
In April 2007 the first UM student paraeducator to receive the scholarship was Stefanie Romero. In April, 2008 Andrea Holmes was awarded the scholarship. Stefanie and Andrea have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the preschool and received their awards at the UM School of Education scholarship luncheon.
The university students employed by Co-Teach are an amazingly talented groups of individuals, therefore choosing just one recipient per year is challenging. The selection committee collaboratively established the following criteria to help determine the best possible candidate:
- Merit - performance on the job at Co-Teach
- Good academic standing
- Years of service to Co-Teach
- Demonstration of the likelihood to make a positive impact in the field of special education
- Commitment to work at the Co-Teach Preschool a minimum of 10 hours per week during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded
The Co-Teach staff are grateful to have so many talented and dedicated students working at the preschool, and are pleased to be able to recognize their hard work through this scholarship.