Crittendon, Finnerty, Peters, Alvarado & Hamaguchi Scholarship (SUHSD)

The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support to students from the Sweetwater Union High School District. Students must have good grades (2.75 cumulative GPA), satisfactory behavior, and want to complete a certificate program or continue on to a four year program that will prepare him/her for a successful future. Applicants must be a graduate of a high school within the Sweetwater High School District. Supplemental essay required.

This scholarship is awarded in memory of Dr. Sue L. Crittendon, Mrs. Kathy Alvarado, and Mr. Akira Hamaguchi all former teachers in the National Elementary School District, with many happy years working with students at Palmer Way School.

Kathy began her teaching career as a student teacher for Dr. Crittendon, at Palmer Way; Akira was Dr. Crittendon’s teaching partner in grades five and three at, Palmer Way. Kathy and Akira both grew up in National City and graduated from Sweetwater High School. Akira attended Lincoln Acres Elementary School and Kathy attended Harvison Elementary.

In addition to teaching for years at Palmer Way, Akira also taught at Lincoln Acres and Kathy taught at John Otis and Central Elementary Schools; Dr. Crittendon taught at Olivewood, Kimball, and Otis Annex Elementary Schools.

Two other Sweetwater High School graduates important to Dr. Crittendon’s professional and personal development were Mr. Ralph Finnerty, administrator and Mrs. Eleanor Peters, teacher; both mentors and friends from her first year, 1966, at Olivewood Elementary. All three were members of the original staff of Palmer Way Elementary, which opened in 1967; therefore, Palmer Way students should receive a primary consideration when applying for this scholarship.

Sue retired from the National School District after 34 years of teaching in third, fourth, and fifth grade levels and established the endowed scholarship fund in honor of her friends and colleagues to inspire students from National City to dream big, pursue their passions and most importantly have fun!