Salina Education Foundation Announces 2026 LIFT Recipients
The Salina Education Foundation has announced its 2026 Loan Initiative for Future Teachers (LIFT) recipients.
Six students were selected from a pool of 20 applicants by a committee made up of Salina Education Foundation trustees, USD 305 staff, and community members.
The 2026 LIFT recipients are:
Jessica Bertrand — Jessica will soon graduate from Western Governors University with a degree in Elementary Education. Teaching was not her original plan, but after spending time as a substitute teacher, she discovered it is her passion. She is excited to lead her own classroom, build daily relationships with students, watch their confidence grow, and see their excitement when they master new concepts. She finds joy in creating engaging activities and becoming a trusted, safe presence for her students. She views teaching as more than a job. For her, it is a calling.
Caroline Brady — A graduate of Salina Central High School, Caroline is a junior at Emporia State University majoring in Elementary Education. From a young age, she has been drawn to helping others. She values building student-teacher relationships based on trust and respect and enjoys helping students learn, explore, and discover new things. She said, “Teaching to me is the most rewarding job. There is nothing like watching a child’s mind flourish as they begin to understand the world around them.”
Lauren Crow — Lauren is a senior at Salina South High School and plans to attend Kansas State University to major in Elementary Education. She has wanted to become a teacher since she was young. She has seen the impact teachers can have on students’ lives, just as many teachers have impacted her own. With both parents working in education, she has witnessed firsthand the connections teachers build with their students. She looks forward to having her own classroom where students can develop the skills needed to succeed in life.
Jaelyn Gates — After graduating from Salina South High School, Jaelyn plans to attend Barton Community College and then Fort Hays State University to major in Agriculture and Family Consumer Science. She hopes to guide students through subjects such as animal science, agronomy, and environmental stewardship, while helping them see agriculture as more than farming. She wants students to understand it as a blend of science, business, sustainability, and conservation. She hopes to serve as a bridge between traditional farming values and agricultural innovation for the next generation.
Kaylin Hornseth — Kaylin, a graduate of Ell-Saline High School, is attending Hutchinson Community College and then plans to continue at Kansas State University, majoring in Elementary Education. She believes school can be more than a place for academics and may serve as a safe space for students who feel unseen or overlooked. Kaylin said children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and supported. She said her own teachers modeled kindness, patience, and honesty, and she now hopes to be that same encouraging presence for future students.
Adalyne Saner — Adalyne is a senior at Salina South High School and plans to attend Fort Hays State University to major in Elementary Education. Inspired by the teachers in her own life, she wants to become an educator who both challenges and cares for students. She sees teaching as a profession that helps shape a child’s future by giving them the skills they need to succeed. She hopes to create a classroom where students know learning and fun can exist together.
LIFT recipients receive up to $5,000 in forgivable loans, renewable annually after completion of their freshman year of college. Once they become certified teachers, they are eligible for hire in USD 305 schools. The loans are forgiven for each year the recipients teach in Salina Public Schools.
The LIFT program is supported by charitable donations from individuals, local charitable foundations, and Saline County businesses.