Cain Sczepanski Award of Excellence
Download this form to nominate a Special Education Educator Today!
The Cain Sczepanski Foundation in Special Education was created by Bill, Carolyn and Cara Sczepanski in memorial to their son and brother, Cain. Cain lived for 24 years with Down syndrome and heart defects. He died on March 7, 2011, of a heart attack. Cain spent 18 years under the guidance of dedicated LISD instructors and paraprofessionals. The Award of Excellence was created by the Cain Sczepanski Foundation in Special Education to annually recognize special education educators who demonstrate classroom excellence.
The application opens February 1st and Nomination forms must be received by 4:30 p.m. on March 7, 2025, at the LEF office located at 1565 C West Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75067 or emailed to robinsonsl@lisd.net. Any questions should be addressed to LEF Programs Coordinator Sherah Robinson by email or phone at 469-948-2020.
Past Recipients
Ted Barnes Award of Excellence
The Ted Barnes LHS Award of Excellence was established by Ted Barnes, who taught at Lewisville High School for 25 years.
The $1,000 Honorarium is awarded to a Lewisville High School teacher or administrator who meets the following criteria:
- Is currently a teacher or administrator at LHS, preferably who has taught/worked in the district, preferably at LHS, for at least 10 years.
- Has demonstrated outstanding educational service to LHS.
- Provides 3 references (one each from a student, a department member or fellow administrator and one of your choice) to LEF.
- Completes and submits application by April 2, 2024 to LEF.
The Ted Barnes LHS Award of Excellence Applications opens February 15th for all LHS Main Campus, Harmon, and Killough educators to apply. Applications must be submitted by 4:30 pm April 7, 2025.
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Read More About Ted Barnes
Former Lewisville High School teacher and coach Ted Barnes was known by his co-workers as a hard working west Texas farm boy who grew up hoeing cotton and playing tennis and basketball. But today’s students and teachers know him as a person who gave a lasting gift. Barnes tenure at LHS lasted more than 25 years before throat cancer prematurely ended his life and his career.
But cancer couldn’t stop his legacy.
His legacy started in the classrooms, hallways and gymnasiums of LHS where he taught and coached high school students, pouring into them and teaching them about life while working in the necessary lessons of academics and athletics.
“You take what he taught you and you use it the rest of your life,” then-Lewisville Fire Department Battalion Chief and former LHS athlete under Barnes’ guidance Mike Lindley said in a 1992 Lewisville News story. “It shows what kind of person he (was) and how much he (cared).”
Not willing to settle for a memory that would fade after a generation, Barnes secured his legacy with the bold step of leaving his teacher retirement to LEF. He provided instructions to fund a scholarship for graduating seniors as well as an Award of Excellence for an educator at LHS each year.
“Ted had a passion for LHS and the students he taught,” Barnes’ colleague Dixie McMath said recently. “He developed strong relationships with friends and colleagues during his years of service in LISD. Ted was unselfish with his contributions to the Lewisville Education Foundation and the scholarship established in his name would have given him great Farmer Pride.”
LEF is honored to be able to preserve Barnes’ legacy. Each year since 1993 scholarships have been awarded in his memory, with priority given to students preparing to enter the teaching profession. Recipients must have at least a B average, display school involvement, and demonstrate need for financial assistance.
Additionally, LEF awards the Ted Barnes Award for Excellence in Education. According to Mr. Barnes’ request before his passing, the honorarium is awarded to a current Lewisville High School teacher or administrator who has served at LHS, demonstrating outstanding educational service, for at least 10 years.
“The school was his family,” current LEF Board Member and then-LHS Principal Doug Killough told the Lewisville News in 1992. “He loved the kids and was very concerned about them all the time. This was his way of giving back, and I think it’s a very honorable thing for him to do.”
Not everyone chooses a career in the classroom, but anyone can nurture students and teachers by providing a legacy gift to LEF. If you’re interested in starting a scholarship, teacher grant or award of excellence, LEF can help you put a plan in place that will begin your legacy now, or through the use of your estate when you’re no longer here.
