Student is Taking Heroic Action

Kim Cervantes-Diaz, a middle grades education major, viewed her teachers as superheroes. She dreamed of joining their ranks – to be a positive role model like so many were for her. 

“As an educator, we have the opportunity to act like superheroes on a daily basis, helping change those frowns upside down and, of course, creating safe and welcoming spaces for all who enter our classrooms – ones that they may not have otherwise,” says Cervantes-Diaz.  

Thanks to the Jeremy Warren Vann Memorial Scholarship, Cervantes-Diaz is following her dream with greater ease – and fulfilling the dream of her parents, too. 

Cervantes-Diaz’s parents came to the U.S. from Mexico with plans to attend university and find careers. Unfortunately, family members in Mexico needed immediate assistance, which led to her parents dropping out of college and working to support their family back home. 

“My parents made me promise to focus on something I always wanted since they didn’t get the opportunity to achieve their dreams,” says Cervantes-Diaz. “Being an educator is my dream. I want to serve my community, bring joy to students and make the world a better place.” 

Her senior year at North Myrtle Beach High School, Cervantes-Diaz was accepted into the Teaching Fellows Program, a state program where students “pay back” through service as an educator. She chose to attend the College of Charleston because of how involved students are in the program. She took full advantage of all opportunities that came her way and is currently vice president of the Teaching Fellows Program and a leader for the Teacher Leaders Program. 

Even as a teaching fellow, Cervantes-Diaz faces one of the epic requirements for senior education majors – the semester-long unpaid clinical practice. During that time, students work with an educator to assume full responsibility of the classroom – from developing the curriculum to managing individual student issues. Given the intensity of the clinical practice, students are discouraged from having other jobs, which can be a financial burden. 

This academic year, Cervantes-Diaz and four classmates have overcome that financial obstacle, thanks to the Jeremy Warren Vann Memorial Scholarship. To honor their son, Jeremy Warren Vann ’97, who was studying to get his master’s in education from Appalachian State University when he died in a car accident, Chuck and Sara Davis wanted to create scholarships for education majors undergoing their clinical practice. 

“The clinical practice is always hard on students because they are working at a school, preparing the curriculum and studying,” says Sara, who from 1998 to 2012 was an associate professor of education and associate dean for accountability, assessment and operations in the College’s former School of Education, Health, and Human Performance. In fact, she presented her son with his diploma in religious studies at his commencement. 

Since it was established in 1998, the Jeremy Warren Vann Memorial Scholarship has made a difference to more than 60 education majors. 

“We are honored to help these students achieve their goal of becoming educators; we need more teachers,” says Chuck. “We have received letters from all the students who received the scholarship and can tell how much the scholarship means to them. Over the years, quite a few of our scholarship recipients have received teacher of the year awards. It has been very rewarding to see them become very good educators.”  

Fran Welch, dean of the School of Education, notes that the Davises helped establish one of the first scholarships targeting educators: “Chuck and Sara have given our students an amazing gift not only by their own donations, but by holding fundraisers to help grow the scholarship.” 

Today, the number of scholarships awarded each year has expanded from one to five. 

“Jeremy’s scholarship shows what one tragedy can do to make change and spark interest,” says Chuck, to which Sara adds: “When young people go out and start teaching, they are passing on what they learned at the College. Hopefully, they will inspire other students to become educators.” 

That is certainly what Cervantes-Diaz plans to do – inspire more superheroes.