When weighing educational policies and budgets, the late Mont Millerberg prioritized the needs of students and teachers, often making a point to emphasize, “the magic is the classroom.”
In keeping with this philosophy, and in support of the teaching profession, the Millerberg family has donated a significant sum under Mont Millerberg’s name to match employee payroll donations to the ACE Scholarship fund.
“Education changes lives. It is the passport to your best imagined future. I know Mont believed this and it’s something I have certainly seen firsthand as a teacher,” said Kris Millerberg, a 33-year educator who inherited her husband’s seat on the Board. “In Mont’s memory, the Millerberg family is taking the money donated to the Canyons Education Foundation under Mont’s name and investing it in the ACE Scholarship. We are investing in those who seek to devote their lives to the noble profession of educating our youth.”
Created by CSD employees for CSD employees, the scholarship for Aspiring Canyons Educators provides up to $5,000 in annual college tuition assistance to support staff — classroom aides, bus drivers, lunch and facilities workers, and others — who aspire to earn a teaching degree. Canyons’ high school seniors are also eligible to apply.
The ACE Scholarship was launched in 2023 and three inaugural scholarship winners were announced last spring: Alyssa Hill, a paraeducator at Bella Vista Elementary who wants to be a special education teacher; Facilities Maintenance Technician Jonathan Kesler who is earning licensure toward teaching Spanish and art; and Brighton High graduate Melody Otterstrom who is enrolled in the Elementary Education program at the Utah Valley University.
Melody’s father, Paul Otterstrom teaches woodshop at Brighton and is proud to know his daughter has chosen a similar calling.
“I am so excited about the ACE scholarship program. What an amazing way for us as employees to help build our profession and support the continued education of our co-workers and students,” he said. “I was happy to contribute last year when I first learned of the program. Now that my daughter is a scholarship recipient, I feel overwhelmed by the generosity of my co-workers. I will increase my contribution this year.”
On Aug. 16, Canyons District employees will receive an email inviting them to consider making a donation through CSD’s payroll deduction program. Donations from last year will roll over, unless employees opt out.
All donations are tax deductible and will to go into an endowment fund, which will earn interest.
“If every employee gave just $1 per pay period, we would raise $150,000 and be able to make more training opportunities available to more employees,” said Denise Haycock, the Development Officer of the Canyons Education Foundation, which administers the scholarship program in partnership with CSD’s Human Resources Department.
Employees can also donate directly to the Foundation at: https://foundation.canyonsdistrict.org/donate/.
