Scholarship Clarification:
At the Cranfills Gap Academic Achievement Awards Banquet in 2007, former Cranfills Gap School Superintendent Carla Sigler awarded the Highest Academic Achievement Award to fourth-ranked student Justin Witte.
Carla Sigler purposely did not make any mention of the academic accomplishments of the three students ranked higher academically than Justin Witte. Carla Sigler thus deprived Valedictorian Kaitlan Head, Salutatorian Sarah Sellers, and Honor Student Ashley Crye of the honor and recognition they had earned, worked hard for, and deserved.
If Carla Sigler had mentioned that these young ladies were all three academically ranked higher than Justin Witte, how would she explain the fact that she gave the Highest Academic Achievement Award to a student who ranked FOURTH in his class? Ah, there is no way to explain it, so she made no mention of their achievements and didn't even mention them at all.
Everything Carla Sigler did was for a reason.
In my opinion, the reason Carla Sigler made no mention of the three students ranked higher than Justin Witte and awarded him-- the fourth-ranked student-- the Highest Academic Achievement Award that night was to be able to divert scholarship funds to Justin Witte for his college education.
Documentation obtained under the Texas Open Records Act shows that Justin Witte used $4,250 in scholarship funds for his college education at TSTC in Waco. My clarification is that this $4,250 amount did not include the several hundred more dollars that Justin Witte received as the recipient of a scholarship from the Cranfills Gap Volunteer Fire Department, of which Justin Witte's father, David Witte, is the Fire Chief.
So just how does a student academically ranked fourth in their class get the honor and recognition of the Highest Academic Achievement Award as well as lots of free money for a college education? It all depends on who you know, and what they are willing to do-- in this case, illegally and unethically--to help you, obviously their favorite student.
And it helps to have supposedly moral and ethical Christian parents who are upstanding citizens of the town. Your mother, Kathie Witte, is a shaker and mover in the town, involved in civic events as well as being a Cranfills Gap school board member. Your father is David Witte, the Mayor of Cranfills Gap and the Chief of the Cranfills Gap Volunteer Fire Department, also a mover and shaker and civic leader.
Yes, your parents are both good citizens who are willing to go along with the deception, even though it harms other people's children. Why?Because that's a lot of money, it's there for the taking, and-- with the help of dear friend Carla-- you can take it. Besides, there will be nothing anyone can do about it, and who will ever know?
Well, God knows. And now a lot of other folks know, too. Along with the many other things that have happened, this is just another shameful chapter in the tragedy that is Life in Cranfills Gap after Carla Sigler.
51 comments:
You just don't quit making complaints about stuff you have no knowledge of do you? Justin recieved the Fire Department Scholarship because of HIS service to the department, not his father's. It is awarded EVERY YEAR TO A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT IS GRADUATING. This is not something that was created just for him. Jesse Best also recieved it.
The Val and Sal are never recognized at the Academic Banquet, that's what graduation is for, it is not what the Academic Banquet is designed for.
These scholarships are not based on who you know and what THEY are willing to do, it is based on what YOU are willing to do. Are you willing to fill out the application? Are you willing to give of yourself time and time again to your community? Are you willing to put forth the effort it takes to get these scholarships that are offered? Justin Witte and Jesse Best were the only two of this class willing to do any of these things and that is why they were awarded these scholarships by the COMMUNITY.
You're still getting the achievement award Justin was presented wrong.
I'm sure you'll delete this comment, like you did the last ones I posted on your Complaint to SBEC, but atleast it means you've read it. And if you leave it everyone else will know the truth. It's a catch 22 isn't it? ;)
Hello Tanya! Didnt say Justin got the fire dept award thru Sigler....just the opposite....dont you think she might have thrown the other apps in the tash can--file 13--as the two only ones to apply..doesnt make sense....
$4250 seems to be the standard amount awarded to ANY student who applies for a FAFSA grant for student aid to attend school in the Waco area. Some of the total amount could be scholarship, some a loan, and some work study. Depends on student financial need as the ratio.
You don't give the award for highest academic achievement to the fourth ranked student! You give it to the student who is ranked academically highest..guess Sigler forgot to tell that Marine that, huh? And yes, this will all be deleted shortly so better read it whie u have the chance.
Snnozeman: All of the $4250 was individual scholarships used at TSTC..no grabnts..no work programs..just individual scholarships...funny only 2 seniors..both boys==applied..FILE 13??? That's a sure bet!
You little devil, you think you've figured out who I am? Aren't you perceptive!
File 13 huh? The students do not turn in their scholarship applications to the school. They turn them into the committee that is giving the scholarship. I.E. Chamber applications are mailed BY THE STUDENT to the Chamber of Commerce, Septemberfests are mailed to Septemberfest, and so on and so forth. However, not all scholarships are given based on applications. Some are rewarded based on what service that student has given to that group. The V.F.D. gives to their members only. Miss Septemberfest is awarded a scholarship for her services, and so on. Many of the memorial scholarships given have no application because those giving them know the situations of the students and give to who they feel is most deserving. This is their right as these scholarships are primarily given out of the pocket of those giving the scholarship . And sometimes scholarships are given to that student based on where their parents work. A child of a Clifton Moulding Employee in Cranfills Gap is the only one who would qualify for the scholarship given by that company based on the employment of the parent. NTPDA also gives a scholarship which qualification requirements are based on the parent and/or students employment. As I said in the previously deleted comments, 90% of scholarships given at C.G.H.S. are not based on achademic achievement, but on community service.
You're still getting the award wrong.
Where there's a will, there's a way, for good and bad. Once a finagler, always a finagler. And Carla was a finagler. What she did to Sandy McMahan, Carol Nelson, and Michelle Dubay proves that. So just what do you say Justin's award is for, if not academics at an academic award banquet? To give the fourth ranked academic student an award without mentioning, recognizing, and honoring the three students higher than fourth at an academic awards banquet is like giving Bill Gates, the biggest nerdy klutz on the planet, an award for athletic prowess at an athletic banquet. Do tell.
Based on your comments on how some scholarships are awarded, everyone in Cranfills Gap and nearby towns must have ALL felt only Justin Witte was the deserving recipient of their money, or-- more likely-- there was only ONE applicant for most of these scholarships. Wonder how much money in scholarships just-as-deserving student and fine young man Jesse Best got? Maybe I need to do another Texas Open Records Request and then compare what each young man received in scholarship money. Most of these scholarships had only one recipient, and that recipient was Justin Witte.
For those of you who don't know what the word "FINAGLE" means, here is the definition: "To arrange, to fix, to get, or to maneuver by cleverness or persausion, especially using craftiness and trickery." So a "finagler" is "one who uses craftiness or trickery to arrange, fix, get, or maneuver by cleverness or persuausion." Oh, my God! LOL!!!! "Finagler" is a perfect description of Carla Sigler!
I'm not even addressing the entry you made about the former employees, because once again you don't have all the facts or knowledge about what happened.
Apparently many people did feel that Justin was the most deserving if he got the majority of the scholarships. If you'll look back each year, out of any sized class at C.G.H.S., there are usually one or two, sometimes three, kids who walk away with more scholarship money than the rest, and they are usually not the highest ranked students in the class.
With all these complaints you are making, what is it that you want done? Do you want Justin to repay the money he was awarded that has already been used for his education? Do you want all these people to come back and give another scholarship to someone else? What is it that you want to happen? Because it seems to me you are fighting a battle that you can't win. No matter what you do or say, nothing that happened, no award given, is going to change. If these three students were so "wronged", why haven't they made any complaints? I know if someone wrongly recieved something I was supposed to recieve I would stand up and say something for myself.
Check the wording on the award you continue to bash him for getting.
I'm not even addressing the entry you made about the former employees, because once again you don't have all the facts or knowledge about what happened.
Apparently many people did feel that Justin was the most deserving if he got the majority of the scholarships. If you'll look back each year, out of any sized class at C.G.H.S., there are usually one or two, sometimes three, kids who walk away with more scholarship money than the rest, and they are usually not the highest ranked students in the class.
With all these complaints you are making, what is it that you want done? Do you want Justin to repay the money he was awarded that has already been used for his education? Do you want all these people to come back and give another scholarship to someone else? What is it that you want to happen? Because it seems to me you are fighting a battle that you can't win. No matter what you do or say, nothing that happened, no award given, is going to change. If these three students were so "wronged", why haven't they made any complaints? I know if someone wrongly recieved something I was supposed to recieve I would stand up and say something for myself.
Check the wording on the award you continue to bash him for getting.
As to your comments about the scholarships: BALONEY!!!! yOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT! I am waiting for you to tell me what you say the award to Justin Witte was for. What was it for? You have not answered me. Please do so at this time.
As to your comments about the former employees: AGAIN, BALONEY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!
I may lose a few of the battles, but I will win the war. Time is telling.
According to the testimony of many witnesses who saw Justin Witte being given an award at the 2007 Academic Awards banquet, the Marine--- upon Carla Sigler's recommendation-- gave the award for highest academic achievement in his class to Justin Witte. No mention was made of the three higher-ranked students. These students should have been honored and recognized for thier outstanding academic achievements, especially if you are going to honor and recognize the fourth-ranked student in the class for his lesser achievement. Those students were No. 1: Kaitlan Head, an Honor Student who just happened to be Valedictorian also; No. 2: Sarah Sellers, an Honor Student who just happened to be Saluatorian also, and No. 3: Ashley Crye, an Honor Student. How is it right that the fourth-ranked student receives the Top Academic Award, and these three more deserving students ( based on their academic achievements) ARE NOT EVEN MENTIONED?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: I SAID I MAY LOSE A FEW BATTLES, BUT I WILL WIN THE WAR. TIME IS TELLING.
As far as your comments about scholarships, how can you say that I'm wrong? How many of these scholarships are you involved in awarding? How many applications have you helped your child fill out? How many have you helped to award? How many can you even name?
I didn't say anything about the former employees so how can I be wrong?
The award was for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement and COMMUNITY SERVICE.
What kinds of community service were the other three involved in?
Relax, I read your comment about the war. There's no need to get excited.
Just wanted to be sure you and all the rest didn't miss it! If one doesn't do wrong, one won't be exposed! When are you going to say what you think the award to Justin was for? You talk a good story, but you are talking all around what the award is for, according to you, without answering. People that were there know what they saw and heard, no matter what the paper for it says, and the award was for highest academic achievment----- it wasn't for picking cotton.
Google USMC High School Awards. This is a direct quote (copied and pasted) from that sight. There are only three award given. Hmmm....seems you have no valid complaint, ma'am.
"Scholastic Excellence Award
The Scholastic Excellence Award reinforces the “tough and smart” image of the Marine Corps by recognizing noteworthy academic achievements as well as leadership excellence. Nominees should be exemplary students who are role models and leaders of their peers. Recipients need not be "Straight A” students, but can be students who show the most academic improvement in the past semester or year."
My daughter has been awarded that same award, it is for Leadership, not community service. They are very closely related. I'm curious to know what kind of leadership skills your niece had.
My mistake, you are correct texamillion. I just discovered that and was on my way to correct it. When I make a mistake I recognize it and do what I can to fix it.
Check comment #17....I answered the question there. Still pretty perceptive aren't you?
Interestingly enough as well, I was at that banquet that evening in 2007. I don't recall seeing you there. Did I miss you or did you not attend? I was also at the banquet this year. The salutatorian and valadictorian were, once again, not recognized at that time, as they never have been.
I would like to complain about the waste of the Valedictorian Scholarship Money. Seems like Katilan Head did not use that scholarship unless she used it at Sonic! Wow! she must be a manager by now. Seems like you don't have any of your facts right. As for the scholarships I am on a scholarship committee and students have to fill out the scholarship application and then the committee reviews them the school as nothing to do with them. In most cases the student has to mail the scholarship in. I know for a fact you have the scholarship money all wrong about Justin Witte. There is no way that the $4250 was for one scholarship!
I think you need to get your information straight before you start posting things.
Not a problem. It was basically the same thing. But the most important thing is that you, and anothernorwegian, are correct in stating it is not awarded to the HIGHEST ranked student.
I must say, I've been keeping up with this mess for the past year and I feel sorry for the students involved, all of them. These kids are all trying to move on with their lives and people like this littleranchgal person just won't let things be.
I know some of these kids that are involved. I've spoken with Justin and Jesse's parents and they both seem to be doing well at TSTC. I understand that Sara is a student at Tarleton now. However I've not heard what it is Kaitlan is doing now. I assume as Valadictorian of her class she too is attending college now. Where is she going?
Oh, is she working at Sonic? I had not heard this. What about attending school? I believe the Valedictorian has their first 2 years at any state college paid for. So, even if you planned to graduate from a community college or trade school, wouldn't it make sense to take advantage of the free education while it's there? Has something happened to keep her from attending school?
It does my heart good to know that--for someone most of you did not know I even existed--a lot of folks seem to be paying attention to what I am saying. A big thank you for letting me have your attention!
If Justin's award was not for academic achievement, why say it was at an academic banquet? Why not say it is for leadership or improvement or whatever. Why not be truthful about the award? What witnesses saw and heard was that the award was for highest academic achievement, no matter what any website says. Highest academic achievement means scholarly accomplishments..grades...scores...not leadership qualitities or community service. And besides, Carla Sigler did as she pleased and seldom followed protocol.
I was there, ma'am. I didn't hear it described as you say. You weren't there. So who is giving you your info? Do you think your 'witness' possibly got it wrong?
FYI, the valedictorian and salutatorian are never recognized at that banquet.
Furthermore, why are you beating a dead horse? And more than that, why do you really care what awards these young men got?
So now you say....
"What witnesses saw and heard was that the award was for highest academic achievement, no matter what any website says. Highest academic achievement means scholarly accomplishments..grades...scores...not leadership qualitities or community service." Which basically says it doesn't matter what the certificate said, it just matters what people heard.
But in your complaint you say...
"Documentation that Carla Sigler fraudulently awarded Justin Witte the Highest Academic Achievement Award would be the certificate of such award inscribed with the name of Justin Witte and the photographs of the happy occasion taken at the Awards Banquet by Kathie and David Witte, Justin Witte's parents."
So, how are you going to back your complaint if your "proof" is not as you first claimed it to be?
For your information: Warning: I will delete any comment that makes a personal attack. If you wish to participate in this discussion, stick to facts and opinions without resorting to personal attacks. I reserve the right to describe Carla Sigler however I choose.
Justin Witte did not receive one scholarship for $4,250. He received many small individual scholarships that totaled $4,250 but did not include any funds from the Cranfills Gap Volunteer Fire Department.
As I understand it, Kaitlan Head will be attending college in the Fall and will use the Certificate Number One awarded to her by the State of Texas for being the top student--the student with the highest academic achievement--the highest grades--in her class. Carla Sigler intentionally caused Kaitlan severe emotional distress and tormented, harassed, publicly humiliated, falsely accused, and embarrassed Kaitlan. Kaitlan was fully exonerated, however, and is doing very well, thank you!
It seems you've reserved the right to judge anyone, not just Carla, as you choose.
I'm with anothernorwegian, what do you really care what awards Justin got? It seems in order to take down Carla, who you obviously don't care for, you're willing to take down anyone else. Why is this?
Judging from the many comments posted here, I would say this horse is alive and well and not dead at all. I care because I and many others find it shameful that an award, honor, and recognition are given to a student ranked fourth in their class, but the top three students with exemplary academic academic achievements are not honored or recognized and in fact are NOT EVEN MENTIONED at an academic awards banquet. I want to know why they were not even mentioned. So far, I have not had a satifactory answer. Everything Carla Sigler did was for a reason. It appears the reason here is to finagle funds for her favorite student, Justin Witte, who by the way, seems a fine young man, but, like Kaitlan Head, is caught in the crossfires of one of Carla Sigler's many fiascoes.
If you support wrongdoing as Carla Sigler does, you deserve to be exposed just like her.
Well, I'm glad to see that she will finally be attending school. It still seems a waste to me not to have used that first year of free education though. But, to each their own. I do wish her the very best.
I was around the community and I spoke with many of those in Cranfills Gap at the time of all this happening. I don't believe it went public until the media was contacted. As I understand it (according to those in the community) it was you and your sister that contacted the media. I don't know that for sure, but I don't believe it was the school board or administration that put this out there to the public. As Kaitlan being a student I don't think they can do that. So, I'm just curious, how was it that Sigler is the the one that caused her public embarassment?
Again, I may have misunderstood some things, so if I have, please clear them up for me.
Kaitlan will be able to use what she had earned as the top student with the highest academic achievement in her class. Other interested parties may also contribute, as they believe she was shamefully treated. I went back to school at 37 with 3 children at home and made the Dean of Instruction's List, so I know it is possible to get a late start and still excel. Kaitlan won't have a problem starting a little late. Thank you for your concern.
I believe if you will look at the 2007 Yearbook, the only senior student shown in a photograph on the Academic Awards Banquet page is Kaitlan Head. It does not state what her award is for (none of the pictures have captions on them on that particular page) but she is holding some sort of certificate. Apparently she was mentioned.
"I want to know why they were not even mentioned. So far, I have not had a satifactory answer. "
We've told you over and over again, the class rankings, even the two highest, are NEVER recognized at the Academic Banquet. It is the time when teachers recognize students from the different subjects they teach in the 9-12 grades. The students recognized may be given awards based on their academic achievements, effort and attitude in the class, grade improvement or anything that the teacher finds commendable. There are no rules or stipulations as to how the students may be recognized, and teachers are not even required to present an award. If they feel none of the students in that particular class deserve anything, they can choose to simply not hand out any awards at all. You would know this if you ever attended a C.G.H.S. banquet, but I'm willing to bet you have not.
Excuse me, please do not give the credit or the blame to anyone but me for contacting the media. I have many friends in the educational field who also contacted the media, but I am proud to say I was the first to contact anyone. Contrary to popular belief, I don't always agree on all things with my sister, or my brother either. We don't tell each other how to think or act. We have several conflicting and disagreeing opinions on certain things. I believe in letting the chips fall wherever they may. I believe that actions have consequences. Don't do wrong, because if I find out about it, I will expose you, no matter the cost to me. I am my own person with my own opinions. No one tells me what to think, how to act, or what to believe.
Justin Witte's award for highest academic achievement was not given by a teacher but by a special guest presenter, a Marine. Justin was selected by Carla Sigler to receive a special award which was presented as an academic achievement award. Norma Goodwin presented Kaitlan and Sarah, the only two students in the class, with a certificate for Spanish. My question is why was the fourth-ranked student --in a highly special and memorable ceremony--singled out to receive the highest academic achievement award and the first, second, and third ranked students were not even mentioned. So far, I have not received a satisfactory answer.
That's very commendable, standing up for who you are and what you believe in. I think it should be noted I am not on one side or the other. I am simply an onlooker who calls it how I see it but only after I've done what I can to hear both sides of the story.
That being said, I would like to say this...I don't believe anyone here can be said to be wrong, or evil, or anything like that. I think that all of these people, including you littleranchgal, are standing up for what they believe is right. That is what we are supposed to do. It is my oppinion that these attacks, ALL of them, need to stop. These kids seem to have moved on, so why are the "adults" still hashing it out? Sometimes it is best just to let things be and continue on with life. I know everyone mentioned here. In my opinion, nobody ever purposely did anything wrong. I think that everyone acted as they thought best at the time. I know in my time I've done things that I thought were for the best and later wished I hadn't. That's life. But we can't keep living in the past if we want the future to be better. Sigler did what she thought was best at the time. Kaitlan and Sara both did what they thought best at the time (though I remember being 18 and I don't think I put much thought into anything back then. Haha). The Witte boy had no part in this, I don't believe he did anything but accept an award that was given to him. I don't believe that his parents really had anything to do with it either. And now you've done what you believe is best. However, I think, as an outsider looking in on this, it is time for everyone to lay down their aggression and keep moving. Focus on the positive and make it a priority to get the positive things put out in the public.
My degree took me 6 years and I went most of that time with a spouse and small child at home. I agree, it can be done, it is difficult but possible. I do hope she succeeds in her education.
Texamillion: I agree with much of what you say. However, Carla Sigler consciously chose to do many harmful, illegal, and unethical things. Proof of that is abundant. Whether intentional or not, her actions have cost Cranfills Gap the town and Cranfills Gap the school dearly. I am sure supporters of Carla and opponents of Carla will vociferously tell you that----tragically--- it will never be over, as too much has happened.
"Nominees should be exemplary students who are role models and leaders of their peers"
I belive this line states why Justin was chosen over the others.
I now somewhat remember this award being presented. If I remember correctly it was given at the academic banquet because the Marine presenting it would not be able to attend graduation, where it is normally given.
Yes, it will be over. When you and your sister and the owner/editor of the Meridian paper let it die. Cranfills Gap has an excellent school, teachers, students, and parents. Great things are going on there. Why can't you let it happen? If you truly cared about the school, you'd contact the press to come view the positive things like programs, award banquets, and memorial fundraisers. You remind me of a child who picks at a scab.
I have a different oppinion. I believe it can end, but we have to end it first. I think this applies to all aspects of life, not just this situation. I think that if people will choose not to discuss it or address it anymore they will eventually forget about it. This is best when there is nothing that can be done about it. I think that Cranfills Gap has already overcome this, we just have to choose to move on from it. We've gone through worse in the past, but people would have a hard time telling you what those things were because we've moved on and forgotten. But it has not happened yet this time because people won't let it happen. I love the community and am proud to call it home. It is a fine place with fine people and many fine things to offer.
Anothernorwegian: Unlike my sister, who truly does care about the school, I am undecided as to whether Cranfills Gap deserves a school. Students are still being treated shamefully-though not as badly as before-- and wrongdoers will never admit doing one little smidgeon of wrong--all they want to do is blame someone else and not take responsibility for their part in this tragic ending of a once wonderful thing. So, let the chips fall where they may. Time will tell.
I'm curious....how are students still being treated "shamefully"?
Students are still being treated shamefully? How so?
As I understand it, one of the teachers ---left in place by Carla Sigler ---who treats students shamefully has resigned---two years too late! It is shameful that that particular teacher is still in place and is in the same room with little children. I believe you know who I am talking about.
What? No comments last night on how shamefully students are still being treated at Cranfills Gap school? You good Christians must all be in Church!! LOL!!!!!
Actually we really were all out being involved in our community last night. With all the activity coming up in the next few weeks in our school and community I wouldn't expect many more responses for a while. We'll all have better things to do.
And as for the teacher comment...it's another situation that we don't all have all the facts and knowledge about what happened, and so we can not make a judgement call.
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