NEWS
Outstanding Students Recognized at Honors Day 2009
A number of graduating and continuing students in the School of Education received awards at Honors Day ceremonies held May 8. Congratulations to these exemplary students!
CHEP Panel of Outstanding Seniors:
Megan Hritz set out to distinguish herself early on in her career as an elementary teacher education major by completing an independent winter study course in her freshman year. She initiated this, not because it was required for her major, but because she was interested in the topic. She chose to study the group dynamics at work in first and fourth grade math classrooms and incorporated some of the elements that she researched into her own teaching. Megan was no slouch in her sophomore, junior and senior years either. She served as a CHEP ambassador, worked during the summer for The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth Program, volunteered at a local elementary school, and served as a member of the executive board of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education. Megan has been endorsed for a certification to teach middle school math as well as elementary education.
Rebecca Stevenson also started off her college career with a bang by serving as the co-president of the Transfer and Exchange Council that encourages campus involvement of new transfer and exchange students. She later served as treasurer of Kappa Delta Pi. Her numerous service activities include tutoring on a weekly basis at the College School, a school for students with learning differences, and organizing toy collections for Toys for Tots, food collections for the Delaware Food Bank, and care packages for American troops overseas, among other things. Rebecca received an endorsement for a certification to teach elementary education as well as middle school science.
Wallace H. Maw Scholarship:
Rachel Lorintz is a member of the UD SAEYC, the Student Association for the Education of Young Children. She participates in several charitable activities, including library story time with children, and volunteers at Grandparents United where she helps children with their homework while their grandparent caregivers meet. Rachel is a sophomore ETE major and a member of the Honors Program at UD.
Karen Beck Scholarship Award:
Kathryn O'Neill has been involved in the Honors Program since her freshman year, first as a freshman fellow and later as a senior fellow and next year as a writing fellow. In these positions, Katie helps plan programs for the University community, including social and political programs. As a writing fellow, she will be helping freshmen improve their writing skills and will take a special class to help her prepare for this role. Meanwhile Katie is working toward becoming an elementary teacher with a certification to teach special education and a mini-specialization in social studies, along with a history minor AND a certificate in Spanish! Somehow she also has time to tutor at the College School, volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, work with children at the A. I. DuPont Children’s Hospital through the Student Council for Exceptional Children, and play intramural volleyball. Katie is what we call “well rounded.”
Van Camp/Remage Teacher Education Merit Award:
Nicole Wroten-Morton graduated with an endorsement to teach elementary and special education. Nicole showed the tenacity to finish the program with a very high grade point average and has the potential to make significant contributions to the field of education and her community.
Theodore S. Beck Scholarship:
Kara Dengler is a sophomore elementary teacher education honors student who is pursuing a dual certification in elementary and middle school social studies education. She has already impressed her professors with her mature ability to analyze problems and take a leadership role in leading class discussions. Kara is a member of HOLA, the Latino community of the University of Delaware. She also is a member of the swing club at UD and holds a leadership position at the St. Thomas More Oratory in Newark. In her spare time, she volunteers at local schools and churches.
Lt. Colonel Michael and Mrs. Chaunca Franklin Brelick Scholarship:
Kristin Pannullo, another active member of the Honors Program at UD, was recently inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She will serve as vice president of this organization starting next year. She is also a member of the Gamma Sigma Sigma community service sorority requiring 30 hours of community service, which she has obtained by visiting children at the A. I. DuPont Children’s Hospital, cleaning up Brandywine Park, and helping raise money for various foundations. Kristin also is a member of the Student Association for the Education of Young Children, a member of the Delaware Symphonic Band, and a member of the UD Color Guard, which gave her the opportunity to march in the 2009 presidential inaugural parade.
Panel of Outstanding Seniors in Elementary Teacher Education:
Jennifer Nemer will be certified to teach both special education and elementary education and even received recognition from the Educational Testing Service for earning a top score on her elementary certification test. She has already gained a great deal of experience by substitute teaching in grades K-8; serving as a LIFE mentor, which required her to teach a one-credit freshman year experience course; serving as a computer lab assistant in the Office of Educational Technology; and tutoring children through the Kaplan Educational Learning Center. Jennifer also holds many leadership roles on campus.
Danna Principati will actually be certified to teach in three different areas when she graduates: elementary teacher education, special education, and middle school math. Her interests in math education led her to do research on middle school students’ perspectives on collaborative work in mathematics classrooms. Danna has served as a Delaworld leader since 2007, is a Blue Hen Ambassador, and is a member of various leadership and service organizations on campus. She will be graduating with an honors degree.
Adria Schlanger is already a leader in her community, serving as vice president of development within the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, an organization that nominated Adria as the “most outstanding junior” of her chapter. She is also the president of the Order of Omega, an honor society for members of the Greek community who exhibit strong scholarship and leadership skills. Adria gives back to her community by working as a camp counselor and by serving as a residential area programmer for Hillel Student Life. In addition, Adria substitute teaches to gain experience in the classroom before she has a class of her own.
Rhonda Weissman participated in undergraduate research during her sophomore year on the effectiveness of the human development course required for elementary teacher education majors. She served first as secretary, then as vice president, and finally as president of the Student Council for Exceptional Children over the past few years. In addition, Rhonda is a CHEP Ambassador who greets prospective students entering CHEP and participates on student panels describing her academic experiences at UD. She will be graduating with an honors degree and will be certified to teach both elementary school and middle school English.
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