College of Education presents Outstanding Undergraduate Student, Future Teacher awards
Friday, May 19, 2017
MANHATTAN — Six new graduates of Kansas State University's College of Education have received awards from the college for excellence.
Earning the college's Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for outstanding leadership and scholarship are four students, while two students are receiving the Outstanding Future Teacher Award for their potential as future teachers.
The award winners are all May 2017 bachelor's graduates from the college:
• Meredith Clark, secondary education, Barnard, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Clark served on the K-State First Student Advisory Council as president and events planning committee chair. She also was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, and was a mentor with Educators Rising at K-State. Clark presented her undergraduate research at the National Association for Professional Development Schools conference in Washington, D.C., and at the College of Education Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Fair. In addition, she participated in the college's Education Rural Arts Day in Pratt. The daughter of Leland and Jan Clark, Barnard, she is a graduate of Minneapolis Senior High School.
• Rachel Wrobel, secondary education, Carbondale, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. A member of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, Wrobel also was a member of the Cat Band and University Band. She served as an academic mentor. A graduate of Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, she is the daughter of Natalie Steiner, Wichita, and Jacob Wrobel, Brandon, Florida.
• Emma Miller, elementary education, Manhattan, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. A member of the College of Education Ambassadors, Miller served as president and Education Experience Day coordinator. She was the founder of Educators Rising at K-State and a Wildcat Buddies member. Active in her sorority, Kappa Delta, she served as vice president of member education, member education assistant, sisterhood enrichment team leader and historian. Her volunteer work includes serving with Manhattan Special Olympics and as a day camp counselor for Manhattan Girl Scouts. A graduate of Manhattan High School, Miller is the daughter of Christopher and Kristin Miller, Manhattan.
• Colleen O'Connor, secondary education, McPherson, Outstanding Future Teacher Award for Secondary Education. A mentor with Educators Rising at K-State, O'Connell also served with the College of Education's Project EXCEL. She was president and captain of the K-State Women's Soccer Club, served on the Sports Club Council and received the Charles and Doris Setterquist Award. O'Connor has volunteered with the Douglass Center and the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter, both in Manhattan, and was a youth soccer coach with Manhattan Parks and Recreation. A graduate of McPherson High School, she is the daughter of James and Denise Munsey, McPherson.
• Paxton Akin, elementary education, Olathe, Outstanding Future Teacher Award for Elementary Education. The co-founder of Educators Rising at K-State, Akin was vice president of the College of Education Ambassadors and a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She received the Cain and Memorial scholarships and served as a recruitment guide for the university's Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Akin has been a troop leader for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. She is a member of the Kansas Reading Association. A graduate of Olathe North High School, she is the daughter of Anthony and Amy Akin, Olathe.
• Emily Stolfus, elementary education, St. Joseph, Missouri, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. A member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi scholastic honor societies, Stolfus received the 2017 Pat J. Bosco Leadership Studies Outstanding Student Award and the 2017 Tony Jurich Community Service and Leadership Award. She was a member of the drum line for the Kansas State University Marching Band. Stolfus served as student advisor and director of national service initiatives for Mortar Board, the senior honor society, and received the society's Michael E. Brown Scholarship as its outstanding member. She was a selection committee member of Chimes, the junior honorary; Sleep Out for the Homeless fundraising co-chair for Silver Key, the sophomore honorary; and a member of Quest, the freshmen honorary. She also was on the selection committee for the K-State Book Network. Stolfus took part in the University Honors Program, presented at the College of Education Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Fair and was named the college's Semester Star for fall 2016. Active in the Staley School of Leadership Studies, she served as a LEAD 212 class leader and was a member of the school's International Service Team to Mexico in 2013. Stolfus was the recipient of the Kassebaum, Goss Discovery and Nancy Larson Foundation scholarships. She served an English teaching internship in Valparaiso, Chile, in spring 2014, and was named the Study Abroad Student of the Month in February 2015. A graduate of St. Joseph's Central High School, she is the daughter of Alan Stolfus and Valyne Pochop, St. Joseph.
