Lake Cities Gala

"Our Kids, Our Schools, Our Future"

It is the Lake Cities Education Foundation’s mission is to assist the students and teachers of Lake Dallas Independent School District through the awarding of innovative teaching grants to educators and scholarships to graduating seniors of Lake Dallas High School. 

These grants and scholarships are funded through our annual fundraisers, the Gala and Auction, held each fall, and the Memorial Golf Tournament, held each summer. In addition, permanent endowments, established by friends and family members who have chosen to memorialize their loved ones, provide annual awards. 

Unfortunately, the Board of Directors of the Lake Cities Education Foundation had to make the difficult decision once again to forgo our annual Gala and Auction. We love the community spirit that thrives at the Gala and the opportunity this event provides to bring together the many friends and supporters of the LCEF and the Lake Dallas Independent School District, so this decision was not one that was made lightly. 

However, despite the lack of an in-person, gala, we are asking for you to consider continuing to support our teachers and students to provide them the same opportunities they or their peers have received in the past. The pandemic has burdened everyone worldwide, and it is our goal that teachers and graduating seniors have the same opportunities as in previous years despite these burdens. “Our Kids, Our Schools, Our Future” Fundraising Campaign is about ensuring that happens. 

The first Lake Cities Education Foundation scholarships, totaling $4500, were awarded 21 years ago to 9 students. Today, the Lake Cities Education Foundation has provided over $560,000 in student scholarships and nearly $350,000 in grants for teaching projects. We certainly understand the trials the pandemic may have caused you, but if you have the ability to donate and feel so inclined, please consider supporting our Foundation, as our funds go directly to students and educators. 

Donations can be made online at www.lakecitiesed.com/donate or, if you prefer, check can be mailed to LCEF, PO Box 1294, Lake Dallas, TX  75065. 

We appreciate your continued support of Lake Dallas ISD students and teachers. Without you, a teacher with a unique project would not be able to share that endeavor the same way with students. Without you, a student going to college would face greater challenges paying tuition. Your financial support makes teachers’ dreams come true and enriches the lives and futures of our students. So thank you for all your support over the years! We look forward to continuing to partner with you to create opportunities for our students and teachers. 

We cannot wait to see everyone again and continue our tradition of community spirit at our annual Gala and Auction in Fall of 2022! 

2021 LCEF Scholarship Recipients

Formed in 2000, the Lake Cities Education Foundation’s mission is to assist the students and teachers of Lake Dallas Independent School District through the awarding of innovative teaching grants to educators and scholarships to graduating seniors of Lake Dallas High School.

These grants and scholarships are funded through our annual fundraisers, the Gala and Auction, held each fall, and the Memorial Golf Tournament, held each summer.  In addition, permanent endowments, established by friends and family members who have chosen to memorialize their loved ones, provide annual awards. The first LCEF scholarships, totaling $4500, were awarded 21 years ago to 9 students. Currently, over $560,000 has been awarded to 382 deserving seniors.

To select the 2021 scholarship recipients, we again utilized a blind selection process:  the LCEF traded scholarship applications with the Aubrey Education Foundation to provide an objective and unbiased evaluation process. The applications were then scored by established criteria and ranked according to the total score.  

Continuing the tradition started in 2018, we presented each recipient with an honor cord. The cords, comprised of green and white satin strands to represent the school colors of Lake Dallas High School, are intertwined with blue strands to signify the Lake Cities communities’ support for our students.

Unfortunately, Lake Dallas High School was unable to hold their annual Rosecutting and Scholarship Award ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, LCEF representatives were able to present the students with their scholarships and honor cords the day before graduation in time for the students to include their cords with their graduation regalia.  The 2021 recipients are:

Nicholas Hibberd Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Allie Robinson

CWII Christopher Chabot Martin Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Gillian Stinson

Louis B. Drozd Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Victoria Marinova

Tyler Morse Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Jason Ballard

LCEF Golf Tournament Directors’ Endowed Scholarship: Garrett Henderson

Tonya Lyons Monden Future Educator Scholarship: Marvis Moreno

Kent Gladen Memorial Scholarship: Delanie Schantz

LCEF Directors’ Scholarship: Michael Brown

Jason Powell Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Aidan Wooldridge

DATCU Scholarship: Addison Buesing

Coach Cosper Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Fabricio Salas

CoServ Charitable Foundation Scholarship: Alyssa Beaty

LCEF Directors’ Scholarship: Brennan Thiessen

Sawko and Burroughs Endowed Scholarship: Casee Harl

Oakmont Men’s Golf Association Endowed Scholarship: Jaya Dhadda

LCEF Directors’ Scholarship: Baylea Ortiz

Matthew Webb Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Gabriela Martinez

CenturyLink Endowed Scholarship: Trevor Moon

CoServ Endowed Scholarshiop: Carson Kinser

Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce Endowed Scholarship: Emma Harrison

CenturyLink Endowed Scholarship: Zachary Kunkle

Gene Halley Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Katy Crain

Heather Weyer Greaves Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Alton Goldfield

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has generously supported the Lake Cities Education Foundation and allowed us to award these scholarships to these deserving students. We are looking forward to watching them succeed in these newest educational endeavors and cannot wait to see the bright futures we know they will have.

Your support enriches the lives and future of our students. Let us continue to partner together to create change and opportunities for the students and staff of Lake Dallas ISD!

Amidst a Pandemic, Our Prize Patrol Awards Recipients

It’s that time of year again. We are thrilled to announce the Lake Dallas teachers and staff that were awarded educational grants by our “Prize Patrol” for innovative and enrichment project proposals. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we had to get creative and transitioned this year’s award presentations to an online format. While district leaders and donors were on video chat with teachers, campus administrators provided them with their oversized checks. 

Lake Cities - Jan 1.JPG

This year Lake Cities Education Foundation awarded nearly $36,000 in grants to Lake Dallas ISD educators. Each district campus earned at least one grant. 

Project Title: I Can See the Ideas in Me

Funds made possible in part through the Walmart Teacher Grant

Grant Amount Received: $938

Grant Director: India Morris, Corinth Elementary Teacher

Project Title: Pre-K Exploration Center

Funds made possible in part through the T.W. Hicks Teacher Grant

Grant Amount Received: $930

Grant Director: Ashley Campbell, Corinth Elementary Pre-K Teacher

Project Title: Tools of the Trade

Funds made possible in part through the CoServ Charitable Foundation Grant

Grant Amount Received: $400

Grant Director: Michelle Richey, Corinth Elementary Technology Integration Specialist 

Project Title: Body Mass Index and Healthy Lifestyles

Funds made possible in part through the Lora McCarty Henderson Teacher Grant

Grant Amount Received: $4,859.29

Grant Director: Debby Winder, Lake Dallas High School Athletic Trainer

Project Title: Responding to Student Social-Emotional and Academic Advising Needs During a Pandemic

Funds made possible through the DATCU Teacher Grant

Grant Amount Received: $4,000

Grant Director: London Hall Bendani, Lake Dallas High School Counselor/Academic Advisor

Project Title: Rod Oven for Welding Certifications

Funds made possible in part through the Boeing Teacher Grant 

Grant Amount Received: $2,056.10

Grant Director: Jerry Crow, Lake Dallas High School Welding Teacher

Project Title: Hocus Pocus, Help us Focus

Funds made possible in part through the LCEF Directors Teachers Grant

Grant Amount Received: $1,411,50

Grant Director: Sabrina Chapman, Dana Dunn, and Amy Rios; Lake Dallas Elementary Special Ed. Dept. 

Project Title: LDE Geniuses

Funds made possible through the CoServ Charitable Foundation Grant

Grant Amount Received: $3,600

Grant Director: Katie Landaverde, Technology Integration Specialist; and Cari Houser, Lake Dallas Elementary Teacher

Project Title: Improving Student Achievement Through the Implementation of Social Emotional Learning by Bringing WHO to the Classrooms and Campuses 

Funds made possible through the LCEF Directors Teachers Grant

Grant Amount Received: $4,450

Grant Director: Counselors/Academic Advisors: Monica Gonzales-Carrido, Corinth Elementary; and London Hall Bendani, Lake Dallas High School

Project Title: Magnifying Science Experiences

Funds made possible in part through the CoServ Teacher Assistance Grant

Grant Amount Received: $2,474.31

Grant Director: Kathryn Holland, Lake Dallas Middle School Science Teacher

Project Title: Calm, Cool, Collected

Funds made possible in part through the Carole Heidmann Memorial Teacher Grant

Grant Amount Received: $2,083

Grant Director: Kendra Black, Lake Dallas Middle School Teacher

Project Title: Leveling Out Literacy

Funds made possible through the Robin Hasserd Memorial Teacher Grant

Grant Amount Received: $5,000

Grant Director: Ashley Fay, Shady Shores Elementary Instructional Coach

Project Title: How Now Brown Cow

Funds made possible through the Drozd Family Teacher Grant

Grant Amount Received: $3,797

Lake Dallas Middle School

Project Title: Genius Hour

Funds made possible through the CoServ Charitable Foundation STEM Grant

Grant Amount Received: $3,600

Lake Dallas Elementary

“We’re so excited that these funds will once again go to Lake Dallas ISD’s excellent teachers so they can continue to make learning exciting and engaging for students,” Don Glockel, president of the LCEF Board of Directors, said. “Hearing these educators talk about their projects was exciting, and I speak for the entire foundation in saying we eagerly await seeing their plans come to fruition.” 

These grants are not available without your support. Donations are currently being accepted here, or mailed to LCEF, PO Box 1294, Lake Dallas, TX  75065. Your financial support makes teachers’ dreams come true and enriches the lives and futures of our students. We look forward to partnering with you to continue creating opportunities for our students and teachers. 

Save the Date! November 7: LCEF Gala & Auction

You are cordially invited to attend The 19th Annual Lake Cities Education Foundation Gala on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at the Denton Convention Center - Embassy Suites by Hilton.

The funds raised by the annual gala go toward supporting the LCEF’s efforts to provide innovative grants for teachers of the Lake Dallas Independent School District and scholarships for graduating seniors of Lake Dallas High School. 

Gala sponsors and attendees truly are the foundation for making the gala a success every year. To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, simply visit our sponsorships page (https://www.lakecitiesed.com/2019-gala-sponsorships) and select one of five levels of sponsorship. You can read about each level of sponsorship and make the correct choice for you. 

Currently, LCEF is accepting donation for the gala’s silent and live auctions. The auctions are an integral and exciting part of the gala. Attendees have an opportunity to bid on fantastic items all the while contributing to making a difference for the students and teachers of the Lake Dallas Independent School District. Past items have ranged from all-expense paid vacations to gift certificates at local restaurants and boutiques, golf outings, jet flights, dinner parties, hunting trips, oil paintings, home decor, movie posters, and more. 

All items are welcome, and LCEF volunteers are even available to pick up your donations. To donate, please complete the sponsor form with information about your tax deductible donation.

Beyond just attending the gala, there are many opportunities for you to get involved in the planning process. In the weeks leading up to the event, volunteer opportunities increase. The 19th Annual Lake Cities Education Foundation Gala would not be possible without the selfless volunteers who put countless hours into making this event happen. If you would like to volunteer, call us at 940-497-5233 or email lakecitiesef@gmail.com.

We look forward to celebrating with you on November 7, 2019 at the Denton Convention Center - Embassy Suites by Hilton. Purchase your tickets today!