Southwestern senior Sarah Ayers is one of three students selected statewide to receive a scholarship from the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA) for the 2011-2012 school year. The scholarship was presented at the organization’s annual awards luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel in Austin Dec. 8.

The scholarship honors the best teacher candidates in the state. TASPA represents the recruiting/human resources staff of more than 340 school districts across the state.

Ayers will be graduating next May with a double major in math and education. She hopes to be a high school math teacher and also wants to coach swimming at the high school level.

“I love high school students and I love math,” Ayers said. “I have been blessed with many fantastic math teachers both in high school and in college who have inspired me and sparked my interest in the field of mathematics. Over time I have grown to see the simple magnificence in understanding and proving principles of mathematics. I want to be the teacher who shows high school students how math can be both interesting and fun. Furthermore, I want to show students that they are capable of learning math and excelling.”

Ayers is a member of the Southwestern women’s swim team and is co-captain of the team this year. Last spring, she became the first all-American swimmer in Southwestern’s history after placing 7th in the finals of the 100-yard backstroke at the NCAA Division III Championships.

Ayers also is president of the Christian sorority Sigma Phi Lambda and president of the educational honor society Kappa Delta Pi. She is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the international leadership honor society, and serves as a resident assistant on campus.

This is the 12th year in a row that a student in Southwestern University’s Teacher Certification Program has received a TASPA scholarship.