College of Education honors eight students for excellence
Friday, May 15, 2020
MANHATTAN — Eight new graduates of Kansas State University's College of Education are receiving awards from the college for excellence, potential or promise.
The awards include the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award for excellence in leadership and scholarship; the Outstanding Future Teacher Award is presented to one new elementary education graduate and one new secondary education graduate for their potential as future teachers; and two students earned the Kansas State Department of Education Teacher of Promise Award.
The award winners are all May 2020 bachelor's graduates from the college:
Gabriel Younger, secondary education-biological sciences, Easton, Outstanding Future Teacher Award. Younger was a member of the College of Education Ambassadors, serving as treasurer, and was a Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellow, a select honor offered through K-State's Staley School of Leadership Studies. He has worked at the Kansas State University Gardens and is active with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Manhattan. Younger also was selected as an extension agent in the Peace Corps and served in Cameroon. The son of Guy and Shannon Younger, he is a 2016 graduate of Pleasant Ridge High School.
Kathleen Andrews, secondary education-mathematics, Lenexa, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Andrews is a member of the University Honors Program and multiple-time recipient of K-State semester honors. She completed an undergraduate research project in fall 2019 with a partner and her research advisor on the teacher's role in student interest in STEM fields. Andrews is the recipient of the Noyce Scholarship and Foundations Scholarship and worked as an on-campus tutor for two years. She was a member of Alpha of Clovia Cooperative Leadership House where she served as new member chair, treasurer and chaplain. She also was active with St. Isadore's Student Center, serving as a retreat leader for junior high nights. The daughter of Clint and Suzanne Andrews, she was home-schooled.
Hannah Patterson, educational studies, Merriam, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Patterson, earned K-State semester honors multiple times, was a member of the University Honors Program, College of Education Ambassadors, College of Education Honors Council, Kansas National Education Association and Phi Kappa Phi honorary. She received the Foundation Scholarship, Elementary Education Scholarship, College of Education Scholarship, Holton Scholarship, Cain Scholarship, Skeen Scholarship and North Star Scholarship. She was a presenter at an undergraduate research fair, a member of the K-State Choirs and was active with Reformed University Fellowship and Navigators. She also was vice president of KSURF, a small campus ministry. The daughter of Ron and Mary Lou Patterson, she is a 2015 graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School.
Jordan Pulliam, secondary education-English and journalism, Mulvane, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Pulliam was a member of several organizations, including College of Education Ambassadors, serving as president in 2018 and as Experience Day chair in 2017; Quest Freshmen Honorary; Silver Key Sophomore Honorary; and Alpha Delta Pi sorority, serving as alumni relations chair. Earning K-State semester honors multiple times, she received the Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship, Jack J. Isgur Foundation Scholarship and the K-State Achievement Award. Pulliam was one of nine students selected by College of Education Dean Debbie Mercer for a 2017 exploratory trip to Zayed University in Dubai. She was a student technology assistant for the college and was involved with K-State's Channel 8 News, winning students awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and wrote articles for the Kansas State Collegian. Pulliam also worked as a production manager for HGTV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in summer 2019, a production assistant for "Treehouse Masters" on the Discovery Channel from 2016-2017; and as a photographer for the Boston Red Sox in summer 2018. In addition, she was active with Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership from 2016-2019, serving as a junior facilitator, program manager and director of Leadership in Action. The daughter of Dustin and DeVon Pulliam, she is a 2016 graduate of Mulvane High School.
Katie Buhler, elementary education, Pratt, Kansas State Department of Education Teacher of Promise and Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Buhler successfully completed the University Honors Program. She has received the Jack J. Isgur Education Foundation Scholarship, Nancy Larson Foundation Scholarship and Alpha Kappa Alpha National Education Advancement Foundation Scholarship, and was a Sodexo Global Youth Service Day grant recipient. Buhler was a member of K-State's chapter of the Kansas National Education Association, Aspiring Educators; College of Education Ambassadors, serving as secretary; K-State Student Alumni Board; and Quest Freshmen Honorary. A student coordinator for the K-State Alternative Breaks program offered through the Staley School of Leadership Studies, Buhler was named the university's top student worker with the 2020 Kyle Pelton Student Employee of the Year award. Her other honors include the 2020 Tony Jurich Commitment and Leadership Award, College of Education Social Justice Award and College of Education Diversity for Community Grant. She also participated on a K-State International Team, was an undergraduate research presenter and a Spotlight on English research presenter, served as a Weekend Alternative Break site leader and participated in a Winter Alternative Break. The daughter of Don and Sue Buhler, she is a 2016 graduate of Pratt High School.
Trey Cullins, secondary education-English, Salina, Kansas State Department of Education Teacher of Promise. A K-State semester honors list student, Cullins received the Kansas Board of Regents Teacher Service Scholarship and the Benjamin L. Hopper Outstanding Service Scholarship. A College of Education EDCATS squad leader, he is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, and Delta Sigma Pi fraternity, where he earned its Academic Achievement Award. He also served as a library assistant at the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. The son of Larry and Deanne Cullins, he is a 2016 graduate of Salina Central High School.
Rachel Letellier, elementary education, Spring Hill, Outstanding Future Teacher Award. Letellier, a member of the National Education Association, is the recipient of the Clark Education Scholarship, Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship, Compton Teacher Scholarship and the Foundation Scholarship. She is the daughter of Leigh and Ann Letellier and a 2016 graduate of Spring Hill High School.
Brooke Barrett, elementary education, O'Fallon, Missouri, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Barrett was a member of the College of Education Ambassadors; Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society of education; and K-State's student chapter of the Kansas National Education Association, Aspiring Educators. A K-State semester honors list student, she received the College of Education Scholarship, Transfer Purple and White Scholarship, Painters Association Scholarship and the Anthony Armstrong Scholarship. She was a photographer for the Royal Purple yearbook and the Kansas State Collegian. Barrett transferred to K-State from Williams Woods University where she was a member of the women's golf team. The daughter of William and Susan Barrett, she is a 2016 graduate of Fort Zumwalt High School in O'Fallon.
