Teachers College faculty and students honored
ESU Media Relations
Monday, May 11, 2009
Three long-time faculty members and 21 Emporia State University students received special recognition at the 25th Annual Teachers College Honors Banquet on Friday. A total of 57 undergraduate students were also honored for achievement of a 3.75 grade point average or higher.
Three faculty members who have served ESU for a combined 91 years were recognized for their work.
Tara Azwell began working for ESU nearly 45 years ago. Azwell is professor of reading and language arts in the department of early childhood/elementary teacher education. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and has served as the diversity coordinator for the college. She has worked for ESU since 1965. The 2009 spring semester is her last with the university.
Scott Irwin has worked for ESU for more than 30 years. He first began at ESU from 1970-1973 and returned in 1981. He served in department of early childhood/elementary teacher education, teaching mostly self-paced, lab oriented courses to enhance teachers’ competence and confidence in working with K-8 students in science settings. The 2009 spring semester is his last with the university.
Patricia Neufeld joined ESU 16 years ago, in August 1993. She became the department chair in 2005 of the former counseling education and rehabilitation programs department, now called special education and school counseling. Neufeld has taught in the areas of school counseling clinical and field experiences and multicultural counseling. The 2009 spring semester is her last with the university.
Undergraduate and graduate students were honored for excellence in their respective departments. Eight undergraduates received outstanding undergraduate student award and 13 graduate students received outstanding graduate student award.
Undergraduate awards
Athletic Training — Blaise D. Kriley, Stockton, achieved academic success while being involved with is profession and community. He has received many honors and scholarships. He plans on pursuing a master’s degree at Northwest Missouri State while holding a graduate assistantship in athletic training.
Elementary Teacher Education — Karen R. Farrell, St. Mary’s, maintains a 4.0 GPA and has been outstanding as a pre-service teacher, colleague, and role model for children. She will be teaching third grade at Timmerman Elementary in Emporia next year.
Health Education — Anne M. Steven, Wichita, serves as a basketball coach, volunteer, and childcare specialist as she is also involved in professional organizations. She is currently a graduate teaching assistant in ESU’s department of health, physical education, and recreation.
Health Promotion — Kristin Gilmore, Aurora, CO, pursued opportunities to gain professional hands-on experience beyond the classroom to help people who want to change their health behaviors. She plans on pursuing a graduate degree at Colorado State University.
Physical Education — Lewis E. Whitson, Fredonia, presented at state and national conventions, did volunteer work, and showed his dedication to professional involvement. He will be working for USD 284 Chase County.
Psychology — Cade W. Amend, Emporia, besides being at the top of his class, Cade conducted independent research and presented it at the Great Plains students' psychology conference, where he earned a first place award. Immediately after graduation, he plans to work with AmeriCorps rebuilding houses that were destroyed by hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.
Recreation — Erik Haberkorn, Emporia, is working as an intern in Chicago and could not attend the honors banquet.
Rehabilitation Services Education — Keith L. Larsen, Pomona, is an active participant in classes, exhibits strong leadership skills, and is a motivator of others. He has been instrumental in making changes in his community, ensuring the needs of persons with disabilities are being addressed.
Middle & Secondary Teacher Education — Melissa Ryan, Manhattan, left the business world to pursue a second degree in business education and proved to be exceptional in the areas of scholarship, pedagogical skill, and professionalism. She will begin her teaching career at Douglass High School.
Graduate awards
Art Therapy — Lauren A. Morley, Overland Park, presented at local and national professional conferences and has proven to be a highly skilled clinical intern. She plans to facilitate an open art therapy studio for elderly nursing home residents this summer, while pursuing employment as an art therapist.
Curriculum and Instruction — Jared R. Bixby, Salina, excelled in the research arena, particularly with his work in forming collaborative partnerships between zoos and public education. He serves the profession through his position as the curator of education at the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan.
Early Childhood Education — Robert J. Wojciechowski, Jr., Newport News, Va., was honored although he could not attend the banquet.
Educational Administration — Blake Vargas, Dewey, Okla., is highly regarded faculty members for his professionalism, academic excellence, and ongoing desire to truly make a positive difference in the lives of students. He aspires to continue his work in education by becoming a school principal, then superintendent, and eventually a professor of education.
Instructional Design & Technology — Enilda Jannet Romero, Hampton, Va., was honored and was unable to attend as she pursues her doctoral studies at Old Dominion University.
Master Teacher-Elementary Subject Matter — David Wayne Dallas, Albuquerque, N.M., was honored although he could not attend the banquet.
Mental Health Counseling — Estrellita Austin-Wimbush, Topeka, worked extensively with youth in the areas of diversity and substance abuse, as well as advocacy groups for victims of various forms of abuses. Her future plans are to pursue a Ph.D. and to teach and counsel at the college level.
Physical Education — Keith Pfannenstiel, Emporia, served as the coordinator of the human performance lab, as lifetime fitness instructor and just recently completed his thesis on anaerobic power. He plans to teach at a college or university, or work as a director of wellness in a corporate setting.
Psychology — Linette M. McJunkin, Emporia, received numerous scholarly awards and her many research projects resulted in 12 conference presentations. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Kansas and her goal is to research, develop and implement new student assessments at the governmental level.
Rehabilitation Counseling — Anna Cannon, Ellsworth, developed the knowledge and skills to be an excellent rehabilitation counselor and possesses a passion for advocating on behalf of people who have been denied equal access to the world, and supports their inclusion into their chosen segments of society. Anna is currently serving as the K-8 school counselor in Medicine Lodge.
School Counseling — Danielle Nicole Stucky, Maize, utilizes the latest technology in the classroom to engage young people, demonstrating her desire to be progressive in her approach to counseling services. Danielle has taken a position as an elementary school counselor in Maize.
Special Education-Gifted — Teresa Morgan, Colby, will earn her third ESU teaching degree this month. During the past year, Teresa participated in a grant writing team netting $42,000 for Kansas students, and received $2,000 in her first solo grant effort. Her teaching forte is project-based, achievement-oriented learning experiences and tiered instructional units with real world application. Teresa currently teaches high ability students in Colby.
Research awards
The Teachers College annually offers awards to students at the undergraduate level and graduate level who demonstrate an interest and competence in conducting research As a way of encouraging student interest in searching for new information. The 2009 awards went to:
Sarah McConnell, Emporia — Undergraduate Student Research Award (Pam MacDonald, faculty sponsor) — for her research on “Pluralistic Ignorance and College Students’ Opinions about Gays and Lesbians.” McConnell graduated in December from ESU and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in psychology.
Amanda Brown, Moundridge — Graduate Student Research Award (Cathy Grover, faculty sponsor) — for her research on “Development of Acute Tolerance to Ethanol in the Male Sprague-Dawley Rat.” Brown will graduate this semester with an MS in psychology and begin a doctoral program at Texas A&M in the fall.
David Dallas, Albuquerque, N.M. — Graduate Student Research Award (Matt Seimears, faculty sponsor) — for his research “A Principal’s Checklist of Characteristics of an Elementary Science Program in New Mexico.” Dallas graduates with his master’s degree in elementary subject matter this spring.
The following 57 undergraduate students were also recognized for a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher. These students are due to graduate or have graduated in December 2008, May 2009 or August 2009:
• Abilene — April Hoffman
• Americus — Kristy M. Robidou
• Arkansas City — Renee Johnson
• Augusta — Melissa A. Rebel, Regina L. Werner
• Blue Rapids — Emily Dawn Baker
• Burlington — Joanna Gilliam
• Dodge City — Thomas Martin
• Dwight — Ashley Bohn
• Elkhart — Katisha Le Von Lintel
• Emporia — Cade Amend, Jessica L. Busch, Suzanne Crawford, Ashleigh Darnell, Jacob Newell, Ryan Norton, Mallory Rizo, Anton Sandoval, Erin N. Stahl, Alma Talamantes, Allen Wilson
• Eureka — Mica D. Burtin
• Goddard — Elizabeth A. Johnson
• Haysville — Sarah Snow
• Holton — Catharine Morris
• Hutchinson — Sara Chrystie
• Kansas City — Elizabeth Baughman, Kana Espinoza, Twakisha Jones
• Lawrence — Jennifer Frentrop-Decker, Heather Harrison
• Leroy — Katie Beyer
• Lindsborg — Jessica Lindshield
• Manhattan — Allyson Deaver
• Meriden — April Dawn Huddleston
• Mulvane — Brian C. Ball
• Olathe — Megan Grisell, Shelley Marsh, Sheila M. McDonald, Lindsay Marie Murphy
• Ottawa — Amanda Fritts
• Overland Park — Kathryn S. McKenna, Jessie Wiard
• Paola — Audrey Fette
• Prairie Village — Kristen Davidson
• Quenemo — Heather Sleichter
• Shawnee — Amanda Attwood
• St. Mary’s — Karen R. Farrell
• Stockton — Blaise D. Kriley
• Topeka — Ila Engler
• White City — Emily Morgan
• Wichita — Petra Elmore, Kaitlin Leopold, Joel E. McClure, Jaclyn Sill
• Winfield — Andrew Groene
• Tina, Mo. — Loren Stark