On May 20, Holy Savior Catholic Academy in Wichita honored the life and legacy of the late Bernastein “Bernie” Winston, a passionate educator and 2012 graduate of Newman University.
During the ceremony, a graduating eighth grader received the first-ever Bernie’s Math Power Hour Annual Scholarship. The award, which reflects Bernie’s belief that all students can succeed when given opportunity and support, was given to the student who showed the highest math achievement and greatest improvement.
Yolanda Camarena, who has ties to Newman as a donor, Board of Trustees member and former employee, presented the award to its recipient.
“Bernie was a very dear friend of mine,” Camarena explained. “It was myself, Bernie and a group of women from the community, including Gwen Sharpe who is in attendance, who worked together to start this program in 2013. For Bernie, math was the most important thing. She felt that was a skill all students could really thrive with.”
The ceremony took place almost exactly one year after Bernie’s death.
“I love my dear friend,” Camarena said. “She would be so happy to know that her legacy continues.”
A curriculum that continues
Bernie’s daughter, Lauren, who was in Kansas City and unable to attend the ceremony, said she was deeply moved when she learned the scholarship was established in her mother’s memory.
“It was a wonderful surprise to know that this was being set up,” Lauren said. “Having that support from other people who knew her and valued her work — that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.”
Lauren said the tribute felt like a powerful affirmation of her mother’s impact.
“I think it is a testament to the connections that she built here in Wichita,” Lauren said. “To know that she’s getting her flowers and that her presence is still felt. … It’s really special.”
The program that sparked this scholarship, Bernie’s Math Power Hour, was developed as part of Bernie’s graduate work in Newman University’s Master of Science in Education program. The Math Power Hour aimed to increase Kansas State Assessment math scores for third- and fifth-grade students. Bernie’s Math Power Hour was first piloted at Wheatland Elementary in 2012, where Lauren was a third grader. It was later implemented at Holy Savior and remains a permanent part of the curriculum.
“The program’s results were so strong that it expanded school-wide,” Lauren explained. “Now, 10 years later, it’s still part of Holy Savior’s K-8 curriculum.”
A loving mother and passionate educator
Lauren remembers watching her mother seamlessly blend her academic work with parenting.
“I was probably her first participant in all of her projects,” she said with a laugh. “She had me doing Singapore math booklets, learning about Greek mythology and Latin. She was very encouraging about making sure I enjoyed learning and trying new things.”
Bernie’s passion for education was rooted in her childhood experience with the FAME Delaware program. This program helped underrepresented minorities gain exposure and confidence in STEM (science, math, technology and engineering) and opened Bernie’s eyes to the “tangible power of education,” Lauren said. It also launched Bernie’s journey to college; she graduated from the University of Delaware as a first-generation college student.
“My mom really believed every child can be successful if given the chance,” Lauren said. “She knew it wasn’t about the child, it was about their environment and opportunities. I think it was important for her to find a master’s program that aligned with her values so she could build on those efforts even more. Being able to continue her education while also being present for her family … that was all possible because of Newman’s program, and I’m so thankful for the school and people here.”
The belief that every child deserves an opportunity to succeed guided Bernie’s career as she transitioned from project management into education and diversity work. While working as a parent liaison in the Kansas City Public Schools and Shawnee Mission School Districts, Bernie led food drives, coordinated holiday donation efforts and made home visits.
“She even had a mini putt-putt set up in her office for kids,” Lauren said. “She loved golf and it’s not necessarily the most accessible sport, so I think she wanted students to feel welcomed and have that exposure as well.”
Connecting communities, providing opportunities
Lauren remembers her mom as someone who could — and did — “connect with anyone.”
“I reference her as a community builder,” she said. “We moved a lot, from Atlanta to Denver, then from the East Coast to Wichita and eventually to Kansas City. No matter where we went, she always found a way to connect people and build relationships. She also always made it her top priority to make sure I had the best education possible. She was very caring. … People loved her.”
Even when Bernie was diagnosed with ALS during Lauren’s final semester of college, her spirit and commitment did not waver. She even attended Lauren’s graduation from Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 2023, a milestone that meant the world to both of them.
“I think she was very proud of me,” Lauren said. “She poured so much into me, and even throughout her diagnosis, she stayed true to herself. She loved dancing and music and she kept that joy as long as she could.”
In addition to the new Holy Savior scholarship, Lauren and her father have partnered with Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City, where they are working to establish another scholarship in Bernie’s honor.
“My mom was in the process of starting her own nonprofit, Achievement First KC, before she passed,” Lauren said. “Because it didn’t completely come into fruition, my dad and I set up a donation in her honor to Operation Breakthrough. We’re trying to find ways to continue her legacy and passion in education.”
Lauren, who is now preparing for law school, said her mother’s passion for equity and service has inspired her own career path in health law.
“Being surrounded by someone so focused on social services has definitely impacted my trajectory forward as well,” she said. “I want to work toward a system where everyone has access to care and dignity because that’s not always afforded with the current health structures we have.”
For Lauren, the Holy Savior tribute and donations funneled toward Operation Breakthrough are more than moments of remembrance; they are powerful affirmations of Bernie’s legacy.
“She believed in the power of education and the potential in every child,” Lauren said. “To know her work is still uplifting others … that means everything.”
Earn a Master of Science in Education from Newman
We work hard to ensure our students leave as even more caring and reflective practitioners who are intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually motivated to transform themselves, their school or organization and society.
