College of Education honors four undergraduate students with awards
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
MANHATTAN — Four May 2019 bachelor's candidates from the Kansas State University College of Education — two of whom will be returning to their hometowns as teachers — are receiving the college's Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for excellence:
• Joni Sheets, elementary education, Belleville, is the recipient of nine scholarships, including the college's Tomorrow's Teachers Scholarship, Nancy Larson Foundation Scholarship, Doris D. Smith Scholarship, Kansas Masonic Lodge Scholarship and more. She is a member of the college ambassadors and Kappa Delta Pi, an international education honor society, and the Kansas National Education Association. In addition, Sheets is a Sunday school teacher, volunteer at the First United Methodist Church food stand, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of America volunteer, and a tutor. Sheets will return to Republic County USD 109 — the district she graduated from in 2015 — where she will teach and coach. Sheets is the daughter of Alan and Jeanette Sheets.
• Mikala Potts, elementary education, Elmdale, is the recipient of the Linda L. Fraser Education Scholarship, Kansas State Leadership Scholarship and a College of Education scholarship. Potts was a member of the college's ambassador program, the university's Swingin' Spurs dance team and volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Potts accepted a position as a third grade teacher at West Elementary in Wamego for the 2019-2020 school year. She is the daughter of Shawn and Lori Potts.
• Clayton Kistner, secondary education-English, Shawnee, has been a leader with the College of Education Ambassadors, a marching and maneuvering instructor for the Kansas State University Marching Band and active in two music-related fraternities, Kappa Kappa Psi, where he was vice president of membership, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, where he served as parliamentarian. In his spare time, Kistner was a tour guide with New Student Services. He graduated from Mill Valley High School in 2015 and accepted a position as a 10th grade English teacher at Olathe Northwest High School. Kistner is the son of Angela and Tim Kistner.
• Rylie N. Thompson, elementary education, Valley Center, is the recipient of the Achievement Award Scholarship and a member of Chi Omega sorority, Wildcat Buddies and Council for Exceptional Children. She graduated from Wichita's Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in 2015 and will return to her hometown where she'll serve as a fifth grade English language arts and social studies teacher at Valley Center Intermediate School. Thompson is the daughter of Cassie and Kevin Bieker and Patrick and Ashley Thompson.
