Rosario Diaz is a student at Mira Costa College. Her instructor Barbara Etienne spoke highly of her: "She demonstrates a keen ability to apply her coursework theories into hands on applications. Rosario demonstrates developmentally appropriate practices as she redirects challenging behaviors and assists children with problem solving and conflict resolution skills. In addition to working well with children, Rosario has gone above and beyond to assist the teachers and interns within our classroom." Rosario’s goal is to obtain her AA and then transfer to University of San Diego for a BS degree in child development.

Rosario found early care and education through a positive experience in a Regional Occupational Program course at Oceanside High School. Rosario enjoys being able to speak Spanish to maintain bilingual communication with families, saying "The importance of speaking the children’s home language allows children to expand their boundaries and blossom as they learn, experience, and explore various available possibilities. Non-English speaking families feel a sense of security and are more willing to take part in the program when their language is spoken. This promotes long term relationships and effective development both for moms and children."

Hayat Hayle has been a student teacher assistant at the City College Child Development Center for two years. In a letter of recommendation we read from the director, Gloria Lyon that, "She works with the teaching staff in a responsive manner…has a pleasant disposition with the children and the other adults…is respectful of others needs and opinions." Gloria appreciates her work with the children and her hard work to achieve her educational goals.

Hayat has five children, is a full time student and has obtained her Associate Teacher Permit. She is working toward her Teacher Permit while working in the English as a Second Language program to strengthen her English. Hayat writes, "I enjoy children…I have always wanted to be a teacher and City College has given me a chance to achieve my goal. I see how much work it is here at the City College program but I am committed to being a teacher in this county."

Lia Vinson is a student at Palomar College. In her letter of recommendation, Susie Bristow, the Teen Parent Program Director at Vista Unified School District wrote that, "Lia has a great passion for our program and has come to endear herself not only to the infants and toddlers but the teen moms as well." Lia is pursuing a special education credential in early childhood education.

In the essay for this award applicants address how they create bridges between ethnic communities. Lia wrote about returning to her family’s home last summer after a 4 year absence with her 4-year-old son to "introduce him to different cultures, ethnic groups, and diversity in Jakarta Indonesia." Before leaving, Lia was invited to share curriculum ideas and educational practices from the U.S. at her friend’s Klab Dongeng Interaktif (translated as story time club). This is a free home preschool program for children of low income families. Along with increasing her understanding of preschool education in Indonesia and gaining experience teaching in the program, Lia brought curriculum materials and a copy of NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practices to share. She hopes that this publications will help her friend’s advocacy work with politicians, and policy makers so they will…"view early childhood education as an economic and social priority…stress(ing) that there be a basic foundation of early learning regardless of age ethnic group, dialect or economic background."

Berta Harris, Susheela Narayanan, Roma Weaver, and Kristin Zink