www.ksu.edu

Scholarship Recipient Graduates
As of November , 2007

I TOOK A POP QUIZ IN LIFE TODAY ...
By R. Lee Harris
Kansas State University College of Education
Commencement - May 22, 2004

Amy Carnahan

Elaine Cobb

Elaine is enjoying her second year of teaching freshman English at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.

Patricia Geist

Katie Hammersmith

Adam Hamor

Dana Ellis

I have moved back to Kansas after spending three years on the west coast. I am currently embarking on my first year teaching in the Olathe, KS school district as a 7th grade math teacher. We are piloting a new math curriculum for our district called "Connected Mathematics" put out by the National Science Foundation. It is an inquiry-based program that has the students working a lot in cooperative groups and drawing their own conclusions from the math experiences they have in the classroom. The program does a great job of teaching math in the context of "real life" situations, which has really helped the students connect with what we're doing. As difficult as it is to learn a "new way" of teaching, I am thoroughly enjoying the programs--and the students are too!

Patricia Zabloudil

I'm teaching sixth grade in Olathe. This is my first year. I see quite a bit of Dana Ellis (another recipient) and her sister as they both teach in Olathe too!

Victoria Luhrs
I am teaching middle school social studies in Kansas City, Kansas at Northwest Middle School. I also volunteer with a youth group here in Prairie Village, and Iam an active K-State and Alpha Chi alumna. I live with fellow Tomorrow's Teacher Erica Voran.

Reily Reinhardt
After graduating in December, Reily is working as an At-Risk Tutor at Amanda Arnold Elementary. She assists first graders who struggle with their reading and math skills. Reily is interested in teaching primary grades and is gaining valuable experience working with this age group. In addition, Reily steps in as a substitute teacher at Amanda Arnold whenever she is needed. Reily is taking graduate courses and applying for teaching jobs for the fall.

Kristen Schnackenberg
Kristen is enjoying her second year teaching all-day Kindergarten in the Turner School District of Kansas City, KS

Kari (Strelcheck ) Hillen

Professionally, it is wonderful to have a year of teaching under my belt. I am in my second year of teaching at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas. I teach Spanish and mostly work with freshman and sophomore students. I am currently teaching three different courses, which all keep me busy. My students are terrific—they keep me laughing and on my toes! In addition to teaching and getting married, I have also been working towards my master’s degree in education. I graduated with my master’s in this past December.

Erica Voran

After working one year at St. Agnes School in Roeland Park, I accepted a new job, teaching 3rd grade in Olathe at Rolling Ridge Elementary. I work with a diverse group of kids and am able to use my Spanish speaking and writing skills on a daily basis. I really enjoy teaching 3rd grade in Olathe! This year, I have also begun working on my Master's degree from Emporia State University to be a Reading Specialist.

Eryn Wood

Amanda York
I am currently working as a Language Arts teacher at Garden City High School and teaching a variety of classes including Honors English I, English III, Photography I, and Read 180 (a Scholastic, computerized reading program for below grade level readers). While most of the students I work with are freshman, I have juniors and seniors in English III and Photography. The variety of classes keeps me on my toes, but so far, I'm enjoying the challenge!

Christi Cunningham
I am back in Manhattan and excited to be here! Go Wildcats! This is my fourth year teaching, and my second year to be teaching at Ware Elementary School in Fort Riley. I currently have fifth grade this year. I actually looped with my fourth-graders from last year and love the experience to keep my kids for another year! Things are going well, and I continue to enjoy teaching and working with kids.

Susan (Larson) Cochran
After graduating from KSU in May 2004, I began teaching sixth grade at Flint Hills Christian School and have been there ever since! My class recently opened a business B.O.B. (Buy our Books) Inc. A local bank approved a loan and allowed us to open a checking account in order to purchase inventory for our book store. The students also sold shares of the business to family, friends, and faculty. We have enjoyed lots of economic lessons during the course of the project and recently took a field trip to the bank to pay off the loan! My husband Michael will graduate with a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from K-State in May 2007. In December, we were able to travel to Indonesia for several weeks to visit family; we had the opportunity to visit a local school there and learn about how school systems work in another part of the world.

Lucas Shivers

Raised in Clay Center, Kan., I served in several community organizations including 4-H, FFA and several CCCHS activities. I graduated high school in 2000 and attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. My experiences with campus and faith-based organizations allowed me to pursue my personal passion of helping others change and improve their lives. I majored in elementary education and agricultural communications and journalism, with a leadership studies minor. I have combined my interests in agriculture and positive youth development with the goal of teaching upper elementary grades. I will finish my master's degree in administration and leadership from Emporia State University in May 2007. Due to my calling to the classroom, I currently teach fifth grade in Abilene, Kan., at Garfield Upper Elementary School. I’m also an advisor for Acacia, a leadership development house at K-State. In 2004-05, I taught sixth grade at Heritage Christian School in Topeka, Kan. Prior to teaching, I served as a volunteer in missions with City Gate, Inc., a faith-based non-profit based in Washington, D.C. I worked with an after-school program in a community center in Southeast DC, directed a six-week Summer Day Camp program and taught ESL courses. My life’s purpose promotes the most excellent way of love. I enjoy biking, reading, emailing and spending time with friends.

Jancy (Davis) Stelly

I am currently teaching at the Kickapoo Nation School in Powhattan, KS. I am the 7th/8th grade General Ed. Teacher. I still living in Wetmore, KS. I have two lovely children, Dillan who is 21mths and Lilly who is 8mths. With school and the kids I am constantly on the move. My husband, Michael, is still stationed in California but will be out of the Military in January. We are looking forward to having him home for good.

Emily Armstrong

Rachel Elizabeth Jorgensen

Tiffany Pralle
As my graduation date approached, I carefully studied my options concerning post-graduation plans. I decided that substitute teaching would be the best thing for me. I was offered a para position in the school where I did my student teaching, but I decided that I would grow more professionally by getting out into other schools and school districts to gain more insight and ideas. I also thought it would be a good chance to work with a variety of students at different grade levels. I am very pleased with my decision to be a substitute because everyday provides me with new challenges and new groups of students to work with. It’s very exciting to get to work with students of all ages and levels, and to get out into different classrooms to gain a variety of ideas that I can use in the future. I am also starting the application process, with hopes of having my very own classroom in August. I feel that the College of Education has definitely prepared me for my teaching career, and I am very confident and excited to see what the future holds. Returning to K-State to work on my Master’s degree is another very exciting goal that I am preparing for in the near future.

Joseph Kern

I'm teaching 8th grade science, as well as one section of 7th grade science at Hiawatha Middle School, in Hiawatha, KS. With both of those courses, I have a pretty big range of topics to cover, so I get to do a variety of things, which is fun. This year I was promoted from assistant to head 7th grade football coach (mainly because the other guy moved), and we had what I like to call, "A good learning experience," as we lost all of our games but improved a lot and had a good time overall. I'm also the 8th grade JV basketball coach this year for the first time, and I'm having a good time with that so far. In the spring I'll be assisting with track, which I also did last year. I was convinced to be a co-StuCo sponsor as well, which has also been enjoyable, and I'm getting to know some of the younger kids that I'll have in class in a couple of years. So things are going quite well, and if I can just find some way to have papers grade themselves that it would be perfect. I'm a couple of semesters into my Master's program in Instructional Design and Technology through Emporia State University, and I'm learning a lot about how to do better things for my classroom and my students.    

Gabrianna Hall

I am currently in my second year of teaching in the Shawnee Heights School District in Topeka. This year I have taken on the position of gifted facilitator at two elementary schools in the district. While I facilitate extended learning opportunities for high achieving students, I also collaborate with classroom teachers and administrators to differentiate instruction for students and also to identify gifted learners. Concurrently, I am working on a Master's degree in Special Education with an emphasis in gifted, talented, and creative from Emporia State University. I think it is important to focus my attention on my students, so completing classes is unfortunately done at a snail's pace. My summer vacations are filled with the bulk of the class work. I intend to finally graduate in May 2009--or earlier if I'm lucky. In June I will be taking a calculated risk out of my comfort zone (Topeka) to move to Kansas City. I will begin facilitating gifted services at Mission Valley Middle School in Prairie Village in the fall. Mission Valley is part of the Shawnee Mission School District. I am currently in my second year of teaching in the Shawnee Heights School District in Topeka. This year I have taken on the position of gifted facilitator at two elementary schools in the district. While I facilitate extended learning opportunities for high achieving students, I also collaborate with classroom teachers and administrators to differentiate instruction for students and also to identify gifted learners. Concurrently, I am working on a Master's degree in Special Education with an emphasis in gifted, talented, and creative from Emporia State University. I think it is important to focus my attention on my students, so completing classes is unfortunately done at a snail's pace. My summer vacations are filled with the bulk of the class work. I intend to finally graduate in May 2009--or earlier if I'm lucky. In June I will be taking a calculated risk out of my comfort zone (Topeka) to move to Kansas City. I will begin facilitating gifted services at Mission Valley Middle School in Prairie Village in the fall. Mission Valley is part of the Shawnee Mission School District.