The journey to the classroom just got a little easier for four aspiring teachers.

This week, the Canyons Education Foundation announced the winners of the 2025 Aspiring Canyons Educator (ACE) scholarship. Funded by Canyons District employees through a payroll deduction program, the ACE Scholarship provides up to $5,000 in annual tuition assistance for CSD employees and high school graduates enrolled in a college education program.

This year’s winners were chosen from a field of 28 applicants:

• Samantha McCullough: Hoping to teach in an elementary school, McCullough has already been working on her Child Development Associate (CDA) Degree while at Alta High. She will continue her studies this fall at Snow College.
• Jenny Green: A 10-year employee of Canyons District, Green has worked as a paraeducator and is now the Head Secretary at Life Skills Academy. She wants to continue working in special education and is enrolled at Western Governors University.
• James Merrill: Currently working as an administrative assistant in Midvale Middle’s Counseling Center, Merrill is pursuing his teaching degree at Utah Valley University.
• Sara Mitchell: Currently a paraeducator at Union Middle School, Mitchell wants to work in special education and will be attending Utah State University.

Two scholarship recipients from last year will also continue to receive financial assistance. The ACE scholarship is a recurring award for those who persist with their studies.

This year’s winners all have deeply personal reasons for wanting to work as teachers, but they all seek to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Sara Mitchell and Jenny Green have both found their calling in special education.

“For some, success is understanding a new concept; for others, it is learning how to self-regulate in a stressful situation. Success is measured differently for each individual and it is my goal as a human being and educator to help the people around me see their worth,” Mitchell says.

Green agrees that every child “deserves to feel seen and valued” and is “excited to create an environment in [her] classroom where students feel comfortable asking questions and exploring news ideas.”

James Merrill, meanwhile, says it was his 11th grade English teacher who cemented his choice to teach. “I understand the profound impact a passionate teacher can have on a student’s development, and I am committed to becoming that type of teacher for others,” he says.

This year, with a matching donation from Canyons Board of Education member Kris Millerberg and her family, the District was able to award nearly double the number of scholarships. A whopping 504 employees contributed to the ACE Scholarship Fund, a 55 percent increase over the prior year.