Pamela Beasley-Nolan and Tauna Hunt Johnson: Former Colfax students earn national teaching awards

Two Colfax High School graduates who have pursued careers in teaching were among those named last week for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in mathematics and science.

Pamela Beasley-Nolan, who has marked a 30-year career as a teacher at Waitsburg, was named for the science award in Washington. She is now a kindergarten teacher at Waitsburg where she has undertaken several assignments during her career.

Tauna Hunt Johnson, who has taught at Genesee for 23 years, was named for the science award for Idaho. Now living in Moscow, she is a fifth grade teacher at Genesee.

Beasley-Nolan, the daughter of Cliff and Jeanette Nolan of Colfax, is a member of the 1979 class at Colfax High School. Johnson, the daughter of Bunny Hunt of Colfax, is a member of the 1982 class at Colfax.

Both of the award winners earned their undergraduate degrees in education at Eastern Washington University. Beasley-Nolan earned her masters degree at Washington State University, and Johnson earned her masters degree from the University of Idaho.

Winners of the honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation and will visit Washington D.C. for an award ceremony and several days of educational events.

The presidential award process calls for six finalists to be selected from each state. The nominees are submitted to the national level for final selection.

The award program alternates between teachers in the first seven grade levels and the junior high and high school level.

Initial nominations come from the local district and the award process calls for an extensive application process and a project.

Nolan-Beasley is married to Kenneth Beasley, who has retired after serving as principal at Waitsburg. Their two sons, Austin and Zach, are now attending WSU after graduating at Waitsburg. They have become known to Colfax residents for their performances with the Blue Mountain Troublemakers, a Bluegrass group who has performed for Relay of Life events here.

Johnson’s husband, Mark Johnson, is distribution manager of the McGregor’s plant at Rollins east of Palouse. Their daughter, Tori, is an elementary education student at the University of Idaho, and their son, Nolan, is attending Treasure Valley Community College at Ontario, Ore.

During her high school days in Colfax, Tauna Hunt was named National High School Rodeo queen. She competed in Washington High School Rodeo events during her high school years.