Lisa Stilson and Becky Hill, 2023 (photo by Lois Haglund)
Joy Richardson and Madison Hill, 2024 (photo by Lois Haglund)
Lisa Stilson
Teaching is my passion! So, as a retired 34+-year Early Childhood educator, joining The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) Scholarship Committee several years ago was a perfect fit. Imagine my delight when Becky Hill, a 2nd grade teacher at Anza Trail in Sahuarita, applied for and received a TWOQC Women In Transition (WIT) Scholarship in 2023. I was greatly intrigued by her essay explaining her reasons for returning to school for a master’s degree in reading, despite still paying off her bachelor’s degree tuition.
Becky, indeed, had a compelling story: All her life she had struggled with reading comprehension, with writing, and with assignments taking her twice as long as expected to complete. Her self-esteem was, as a result, low. It was not until age 30 that she was diagnosed with dyslexia.
The dyslexia diagnosis changed her life forever! With proper accommodation, Becky went from low grades and failing exams to starting a master’s program in reading where she received all A’s and graduated in September of 2023. Becky now teaches 2nd grade at Anza Trail and is an instructional coach, ICAT mentor teacher, team leader, and professional development instructor. As her mentor, I witnessed firsthand her calm, gentle classroom manner, helping students understand and achieve expectations. It was a joy to interact with her students and read my favorite books to them.
Becky often spoke of her daughter Madison’s passion for acting, but also about her challenges. Diagnosed with anxiety and depression in grade school, Madison grew up an introverted child. Making friends was difficult, and she shied away from, in her words, “… any unfamiliar territories.” That lasted until 8th grade when her mother managed to persuade Madison to join a newly formed drama club at school. To her own amazement, Madison absolutely loved it and never looked back. She has, to date, been in 17 productions, and I have attended three: Wind in the Willows, Into the Woods, and Beauty and the Beast. One can clearly see her passion for performing, and I’m hooked on her talent! But she says her favorite role is Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, so I greatly look forward to seeing her in that someday.
Becky’s family was incredibly supportive while she worked towards obtaining her BA and MAT. Now that she is done, the focus is on daughter Madison as she pursues her own goals. Just like her mother, Madison’s dreams are being helped along by TWOQC, because Madison has just graduated from Walden Grove High School and received a TWOQC High School Scholarship to pursue acting and a degree in theatre arts. She starts school at the end of August. And Madison and her own mentor, Joy Richardson, have bonded over a mutual passion—in this case, theatre.
TWOQC’s Scholarship Program has truly transformed the lives of both mother and daughter! For more information on TWOQC Scholarships and how you can help change lives of women like Becky and Madison Hill, please contact Deb Melton, director of scholarships, at [email protected].