Catherine Lee Memorial Scholarship

Teaching at a new school must have been hectic, and not a little unnerving. There were students racing around the campus with piles of  books because the lockers didn't arrive in time. It was always muddy and flooded on rainy days, because there was no grass or proper drainage. It would be my guess that Mrs. Lee was better prepared than most to shepherd students through the school day beginning with "A" period and finishing with football practice on a campus that was largely dirt and noise when she arrived.

Mrs. Lee taught school for 30 years. Her first students were at the Southern California Military Academy, where she taught for three years. She then moved to Tustin Union High School, and after ten years at Tustin, she came to us at El Modena. A member of the faculty for seventeen years, she touched the lives of thousands of students, whether it was in a literature class or choreographing graduation exercises.

Educated at Boston University, her teaching style and personal bearing demanded respect. Her businesslike approach to teaching was mirrored in her navy blue suits, sensible pumps and never-a-hair-out-of-place style.

Hired to teach British Literature, Mrs. Lee taught us more than Shakespeare and Donne. She taught us to respect the writing process. She taught us to value well written work. She also taught us to think for ourselves and provided daily opportunities to test our abilities. Her expectations of proper behavior and attention to detail helped to craft skilled writers, voracious readers and students who knew how to treat others with respect.

It is with sadness that we say good-bye to Mrs. Lee. We do however celebrate her life by remembering and sharing the gifts she shared with us, and by following our dreams she helped build - the dreams she helped us to build. —Peggy L. Calvert, (Class of 1968), 2001

Catherine Lee Memorial Scholarship Recipients

2006

Amber Cornelsen

2005

Brent Lamb, April Lewis and Justin Underwood

2004

Cheryl L. Davis, Isabella Gutierrez and Nazanin Karandish

2003

Allyson Stepp & Christina Dominguez

2002

Graciela Barajas & Hoang Bui