Seven of the nation’s outstanding graduate students in educational administration were feted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association as winners of $2,500 graduate scholarships toward their studies in school system leadership at AASA’s National Conference on Education in San Diego.

The scholarships are given each year in honor of AASA’s former executive directors — Sherwood D. Shankland, Worth McClure, Finis E. Engleman, Forrest E. Connor, Paul B. Salmon, Richard D. Miller and Paul D. Houston.

The 2020 scholarship recipients are:

• Stephanie D. Andler, director of state and federal programs, Selah School District in Selah, Wash. She is working on a doctorate at Washington State University in Richland, Wash.

• Jessica N. Betz, principal, Father Marquette Catholic Academy in Marquette, Mich. She is pursuing a doctorate at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

• Deborah L. Elder, executive director, Office of Innovation and School Choice, Albuquerque Public Schools in Albuquerque, N.M. She is completing a doctoral degree at University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

• Michael T. Gaines II, assistant principal, Franklin Central High School in theFranklin Township, Ind., Community School Corp. He is pursuing a doctoral degree at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

• Clara Jessica Garay, vice principal, Esperanza Elementary School in West Valley City, Utah. She is working on a master’s degree in leadership and policy at University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

• Julie H. Lam, assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Oswego East High School in Oswego, Ill. She is pursuing a doctoral degree at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill.

• Maisha G. Rounds, principal, Michael J. Perkins Elementary School in the Boston Public Schools. She is a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education.

The AASA Educational Administration Scholarship was created in 1949 to provide incentives, recognition and financial assistance to outstanding graduate students in school administration who intend to make the school superintendency a career. AASA selects recipients on the basis of their experience and excellence in school administration, personal essays and recommendations from university faculty.