De Sa Scholarship awarded to Las Lomas student

In an emotional moment at the 2007 Las Lomas Senior Awards Night, Lisa De Sa announced: "Our awardee's local and global participation in trying to make the world a finer place... make us proud to award the first annual Michael W. De Sa Memorial Scholarship to Tyler Duncan."

When WCSD Superintendent Mike De Sa passed away in October, in lieu of flowers, his family requested that donations be made in his name to the Walnut Creek Education Foundation (WCEF). Mike's wife Lisa, and children Caitlin and Sam, eventually proposed using a portion of these funds to start a memorial scholarship fund, to be administered by WCEF.

At the Awards Night, Lisa De Sa spoke of Mike's 13 years of passionate leadership in the Walnut Creek School District. She described the scholarship criteria as exemplifying "the type of student that Mike enjoyed mentoring so much: a well-rounded graduate of the Walnut Creek schools who has nurtured his life's passions both in school... and outside the confines of academia, through service in the community and other pursuits."

Nine Las Lomas seniors applied for the new scholarship. Career Counselor Ellen Smith, along with Las Lomas Guidance Counselors reviewed the applications, forwarding 3 finalists to the De Sa Scholarship Committee.

"Tyler Duncan's passion for service in his community and abroad immediately stood out," Smith explained. "Not only had he held 3 class offices at Las Lomas while participating in the Take Action Club and Assisteens, Tyler helped build classrooms in rural Kenya with the international organization, Leaders Today."

Tyler will use the $2000 scholarship this fall as he begins his freshman year at the University of Colorado.

For more information about the Michael W. De Sa Memorial Scholarship or to make a donation, please contact Emily Schardt, WCEF Executive Director by calling (925) 933-WCEF, by email at eschardt@wcefk12.org.