Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Sonkoly receives tuition award from Mountain West
11/9/2022 2:00:00 PM | Water Polo
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Mountain West announced on Wednesday that seven student-athletes, including Fresno State water polo student-athlete Isabella Sonkoly, from across the league have been awarded $2,500 in tuition from the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and Dr. Pepper as part of the Go Teach Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway.
Sonkoly, a junior attacker from Clovis who is a liberal studies and human development major, has played in 41 games over the last three seasons for the Bulldogs scoring 26 goals and adding 22 assists while helping Fresno State to the last two Golden Coast Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
This is the third year of the Go Teach Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway, which is part of a collective six-year effort between the CFP Foundation and Dr. Pepper, awarding more than $1.5 million in tuition to student-athletes looking to become teachers. This fund is in addition to Dr. Pepper's Tuition Giveaway program and includes all 10 FBS conferences, the University of Notre Dame and HBCUs. Each year, up to 150 student-athletes will be awarded $2,500 in tuition, and 11 grand-prize recipients will receive an additional $10,000 tuition grant – one student per conference. The Mountain West will announce its grand prize tuition recipient on Dec. 3.
"We need more teachers in the pipeline to support the growing need for a diverse and well-qualified teacher workforce," said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. "Our Go Teach project is an important initiative to us as we encourage student-athletes, who we know make amazing leaders, to pursue careers in education. Dr. Pepper's tuition support will go a long way to ensure we have great teachers in the future."
The CFP Foundation and Dr. Pepper are dedicated to growing the Go Teach initiative to place qualified teachers in classrooms nationwide. Launched in 2018 through a pilot program at the University of Texas at Austin, the Go Teach initiative quickly expanded to a dozen schools by the end of 2019. Today, more than 15 schools are participating in the Go Teach program and identifying creative ways to help student-athletes move into the teaching profession.
The CFP Foundation is the largest sports entity supporting K-12 educators in America. For more information about the CFP Foundation, visit cfp-foundation.org.
About the College Football Playoff Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers
The CFP Foundation is the community-engagement arm of the College Football Playoff, supporting education across the country. The CFP Foundation's primary cause platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development. The CFP Foundation utilizes multiple partnerships to execute its initiatives and support positive educational outcomes. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.
Recipients of $2,500 in tuition awards (each of the students is majoring in education):
Erin Morden, Boise State, Gymnastics (Elementary Education)
Isabella Sonkoly, Fresno State, Water Polo (Liberal Studies & Human Development)
Josien Wijkhuijs, Nevada, Swimming (Integrated Elementary, English Language BSEDU Acquisition & Development)
Christopher Humetewa, New Mexico, Track & Field (Secondary Education)
Elizabeth Menzmer, San Diego State, Swimming (Special Education, Mild to Moderate Support Needs Credential)
Ashley Goard, San José State, Softball (English Prep for Teaching)
Caige McComb, Wyoming, Track & Field (College of Education, Secondary Education-Social Studies)
"Fresno State Athletics - For The V: The Central Valley" – Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff proudly wear the "Green V" to show their pride in representing the Central Valley. Stories of why the Bulldogs play for the "Green V" will be shared throughout the next year with #ForTheV. To become a Bulldog Foundation member or join "The Green V Society," please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
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Sonkoly, a junior attacker from Clovis who is a liberal studies and human development major, has played in 41 games over the last three seasons for the Bulldogs scoring 26 goals and adding 22 assists while helping Fresno State to the last two Golden Coast Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
This is the third year of the Go Teach Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway, which is part of a collective six-year effort between the CFP Foundation and Dr. Pepper, awarding more than $1.5 million in tuition to student-athletes looking to become teachers. This fund is in addition to Dr. Pepper's Tuition Giveaway program and includes all 10 FBS conferences, the University of Notre Dame and HBCUs. Each year, up to 150 student-athletes will be awarded $2,500 in tuition, and 11 grand-prize recipients will receive an additional $10,000 tuition grant – one student per conference. The Mountain West will announce its grand prize tuition recipient on Dec. 3.
"We need more teachers in the pipeline to support the growing need for a diverse and well-qualified teacher workforce," said CFP Foundation Executive Director Britton Banowsky. "Our Go Teach project is an important initiative to us as we encourage student-athletes, who we know make amazing leaders, to pursue careers in education. Dr. Pepper's tuition support will go a long way to ensure we have great teachers in the future."
The CFP Foundation and Dr. Pepper are dedicated to growing the Go Teach initiative to place qualified teachers in classrooms nationwide. Launched in 2018 through a pilot program at the University of Texas at Austin, the Go Teach initiative quickly expanded to a dozen schools by the end of 2019. Today, more than 15 schools are participating in the Go Teach program and identifying creative ways to help student-athletes move into the teaching profession.
The CFP Foundation is the largest sports entity supporting K-12 educators in America. For more information about the CFP Foundation, visit cfp-foundation.org.
About the College Football Playoff Foundation and Extra Yard for Teachers
The CFP Foundation is the community-engagement arm of the College Football Playoff, supporting education across the country. The CFP Foundation's primary cause platform, Extra Yard for Teachers, is dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers in four focus areas: resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development. The CFP Foundation utilizes multiple partnerships to execute its initiatives and support positive educational outcomes. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.
Recipients of $2,500 in tuition awards (each of the students is majoring in education):
Erin Morden, Boise State, Gymnastics (Elementary Education)
Isabella Sonkoly, Fresno State, Water Polo (Liberal Studies & Human Development)
Josien Wijkhuijs, Nevada, Swimming (Integrated Elementary, English Language BSEDU Acquisition & Development)
Christopher Humetewa, New Mexico, Track & Field (Secondary Education)
Elizabeth Menzmer, San Diego State, Swimming (Special Education, Mild to Moderate Support Needs Credential)
Ashley Goard, San José State, Softball (English Prep for Teaching)
Caige McComb, Wyoming, Track & Field (College of Education, Secondary Education-Social Studies)
"Fresno State Athletics - For The V: The Central Valley" – Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff proudly wear the "Green V" to show their pride in representing the Central Valley. Stories of why the Bulldogs play for the "Green V" will be shared throughout the next year with #ForTheV. To become a Bulldog Foundation member or join "The Green V Society," please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
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