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Janesville woman wins educational makeover

JANESVILLE — Tammy Wakefield once dreamed of being a police officer.

Now she dreams of being in another profession, where she’ll sometimes have to deal with unruly subjects—teaching.

Wakefield, 41, won the “Extreme Educational Makeover,” a scholarship prize that allows her to attend UW-Rock County.

UW-Rock County, the UW-Rock County Foundation and WSJY Lite 107.3 of Fort Atkinson sponsored the prize, which is now in its second year.

The contest kicked off in June, and contestants had to write an essay describing why they wanted to attend college.

Five finalists were selected from the 16 essays and were interviewed by a panel of university and radio station representatives.

Wakefield wrote that when her children were younger, she took courses for more than a year, hoping to become a police officer. But she soon realized that the occupation was simply too dangerous, plus she couldn’t afford to start over in a new field.

Now, with only one child at home, Wakefield is ready to go back to school and hopes to become a teacher.

In her essay, Wakefield said she married at 18 and was pregnant six months later. Now, the stay-at-home mom has three children of her own and is stepmother to her husband’s two children. Her youngest child is 6.

“Actually, this is an answered prayer to a lifelong dream. I really want to be a teacher and help kids by using my life experiences,” Wakefield said.

She wants to teach high school students. She might want to teach history.

“That would be one class I really want to make fun for them,” Wakefield said.

The contest was open to people age 22 and older. Wakefield feared judges would think she was too old.

“I've sacrificed so much of my life for my family. I want the chance to get out there and do something that’s going to give back to the community,” Wakefield said.

In addition to the scholarship, Wakefield will also get a $200 gift certificate from the campus bookstore, a $20 punch card from the Campus Café and some school supplies.

Reporter Ann Marie Ames contributed to this story.