The Founder’s Award, named in honor of the EAST founder, Tim Stephenson, is the most notable of all EAST Conference awards given. This year four schools have been inducted into the Founder’s Circle for
BUFFALO ISLAND CENTRAL HIG
extraordinary accomplishments in each of the core principle areas of EAST. We sat down with our four winners to talk to them about their experiences, and they all
Meet the EAST Conference 2020 team of B School led by facilitator, Jill Sanders!
said something very similar, the best thing about winning Founder’s is reflecting. Q
Is this your program's first time submitting for the Founder's Award? FACILITATOR: This was actually our third time to submit a Founder's Application. We were selected as a Founder's Finalist in 2016. Then in 2017, we were chosen as the overall Founder's Winner. The application process this year was streamlined to make the process much simpler and efficient.
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Why did you decide to submit an application for the Founder's Award? TEAM MEMBER: It just felt right! We kind of all looked at each other and said why not? FACILITATOR: We felt that applying for Founder's made sense this year. Our whole EAST program seemed dedicated to making a positive change in our school and community. Making the decision to apply for Founder's early in the year encouraged and motivated students to work hard and do their absolute best.
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Describe what it felt like when you were notified that you were 1 of 4 Founder's Award recipients for EAST Conference 2020. FACILITATOR: It was exhilarating! The whole team felt like they were walking on cloud nine. I can remember walking down the hall and see-
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ing other EAST students jumping up and down in excitement. TEAM MEMBER: Mrs. Jill, Brody, and Harris were at the EAST Leadership Team Retreat when the Founder's announcement was made. We were super excited, but it was hard not being with the rest of the EAST Conference Team to celebrate. We all just wanted to be together.
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Why was it important for your program to submit a Founder's Award application? TEAM MEMBER: Submitting a Founder's Award application is the perfect chance to pause and reflect on all that your program has accomplished. It is a celebration just to compile in one place all that you have achieved. FACILITATOR: Applying for Founder's also sets expectations for projects at a high level. This is a great thing! Once that level of expectation is set high, then students will consistently reach higher. They will challenge themselves to do more than they thought they could. Q
What advice would you give a school who is considering submitting for Founder's Award next year? FACILITATOR: Do it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our application video is something that we are very proud of. Even if we had not won Founder's, our application video is a great way for us to show our community partners, other EAST students, future EAST students, etc. what EAST is about. TEAM MEMBER: Start early on the application process. Don't put it off to the last minute! The earlier you start gathering
