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Show ' 1 ' ' i f V v( ractice s I-: - f ;: -Durin : ' ( f' i ' CP 'Jf "'to h f Kple Gentry Lassen, standing, watches while her teacher B Victor Williamson, checks over her assignment. Gentn c0j has won a trip, largely because of the efforts of Jit. tic Williamson. Deserving student L to be 'Disney Child' ' By MARCELLA WALKER Thanks to an interested teacher at Central School in Pleasant Grove, Gentry Lassen and her family will be taking an an all-expense paid trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Victor Williamson, Gentry's teacher, wrote a letter recommending recom-mending Gentry for the Disney's Child program being sponsored by Disney World and KSL-TV and she was among 26 others chosen from thousands of entries. Williamson sent the letter without mentioning it to anyone. He was surprised as the rest when he was notified that Gentry had won. Gentry was born deaf. She is the daughter of Paul and Janice Lassen of Pleasant Grove. She has been mainstreamed through grade school with hearing children and has been a very good student. In his letter, Williamson noted that Gentry's story is one of a day to day struggle to achieve in school. Her only means of communicating is by signing. "Her fighting spirit drove her to function with the hearing kids and to do well," he wrote. "Gentry's story is one of a mother and daughter team. Gentry's mother has been at her daughters side from the beginning of her schooling" he added. Janice was not paid in the beginning, but came to school to interpret for her daughter and also work as a teacher's aide on a volunteer basis. Later the district gave her one-half day aide status but she still spent the entire day at the school. He said that Janice is known for her willingness to go the extra mile for any teacher she has worked with During the morning, Gentry's mother interprets for her. In the afternoon she is on her own as her her(Lwants her to learn to cope without her all day. "She is in a classroom with a teacher who has no training in signing," Williamson wrote "She sits during the lessons attempting to piece the instruction together from what is put on the board After assignments are given. Gentry gives them her best effort. She musf ask any questions in written form and Jen wait for a re Williamson added. Gentry's school day doesn't end at 3.30 p.m. After school Gentry goes home and begins her homework Her hearing classmates have around one or two hours of homework every mght. For Gen.ry, that one or two hours ,s four to six hours per night. Her friends know that Ger.L-not Ger.L-not available to play on nights. Gentry wants good and knows that with her hanc it's going to take lots of time . effort on her part and oi : mother's part, Mr. Wilfc noted. "Gentry doesn't expect ; special considerations. Shedofc same work as her classmt Williamson explained. "Herat and determination has paid t Gentry is on the sixth grade h" roll," he said. ! He also stated that Gentry: example by coming to s always prepared. She has r come to school with an u assignment. "Gentry's1 attitude, & mination, sense of humor j example is what truly mate Disney Child," he concluded. Gentry's mother said family hopes to' make the n? Disney World in the latter pi April over the spring break. Gentry was very surprised.-shedidnotknowMr.WiHia surprised.-shedidnotknowMr.WiHia written the letter to KSL. m excited when she learned t was a winner. The winning J were selected by a panel judges. Gentry's story is scheduled aired on Prime Time Weds., March 16, at 6:30 P KSL-TV. The television cre to the school and filmed W her classroom. , Right after her parents she was deaf, at age 13 mow began to teach her to si6 entire family learned to -eluding her grandparents-uncles, grandparents-uncles, cousins, etc. Janice said that Gentry!1 at all she does. She p'aP softball, basketball, and is ; involved in the Young Program at Central Scnw requires another three nou alter school time. Gentry loves to work computer and her favorite' do math problems on it-math it-math is her favorite su school. Although she does not what she would like to be grows up. Gentry would i tend BYU after comF1 school. The plans for next year attends junior high school up in the air as to which s will attend, but whereevei one has any doubts about success. She will work happen, you can bet your W |