College of Education honors students for excellence, promise as educators
MANHATTAN — Seven students from the College of Education at Kansas State University are earning awards for excellence and for promise in the education profession.
The students will be recognized at the college's commencement ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 15, in Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Two students will receive the Outstanding Future Teacher Award, which recognizes their potential as future teachers, and five students will receive the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award, which is given for outstanding leadership and scholarship.
The following students are receiving awards from the College of Education:
• Cara Gunzelman, secondary education-earth science, Derby, is being recognized as a College of Education Outstanding Future Teacher Award recipient. She served as vice president of the K-State-National Science Teaching Association and member of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honorary society in education. She received the Diekmann scholarship and Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship, which is designed to attract teachers in hard-to-fill disciplines or underserved areas.
• Kylie Hutfles, elementary education, Horton, is being recognized as a College of Education Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recipient. Hutfles will graduate summa cum laude. She served as president and executive advisor of the College of Education's EdCats Council and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She received the Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship, Jack J. Isgur Foundation Scholarship, Gladys Ross Carlson Adelphe Scholarship and Krystal D. Aarstad Memorial Scholarship. Hutfles worked as a library assistant for the College of Veterinary Medicine and as an emergency substitute for South Brown County USD 430 and Manhattan-Ogden USD 383. She also volunteered at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan.
• Sally Lopez Gurrola, elementary education, Kansas City, is being recognized as a College of Education Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recipient. She received the College of Education's Social Justice Advocacy Award and served as vice president of the League of United Latin American Citizens and chair of the Education Symposium, the college's annual professional development day. She was a member of the Kansas National Education Association, Hispanic American Leadership Organization and Kappa Delta Pi, the international honorary society in education. During her time at K-State, Lopez Gurrola traveled to education and leadership conferences in Kansas, Illinois and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Her service to the community included working as a paraeducator, English as a second language aide and interpreter at Manhattan-Ogden USD 383. In addition to her extracurricular activities, she was a student employee in the Center for Intercultural and Multilingual Advocacy. She received the Charles P. and Doris M. Setterquist Scholarship, Geraldine K. Scully Scholarship, Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship and Hispanic Development Fund Scholarship. Lopez Gurrola is a first-generation high school graduate and is the daughter of Mexican immigrants.
• Katherine Lacy, elementary education, Overland Park, is being recognized with a College of Education Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. A triplet, Lacy served as new member trainer for the College of Education Ambassadors and student-at-large for the College of Education Student Council. A servant leader, Lacy was a substitute teacher with Manhattan-Ogden USD 383, a volunteer at University Christian Church and chapter correspondent for Pi Beta Phi sorority. Lacy received several scholarships, including the PepsiCo Foundation Excel Scholarship and College of Education Alumni Scholarship.
• Kelsie McFadden, secondary education-English, Overland Park, is being recognized as a College of Education Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recipient. She served as chair of the College of Education's Student Council and was a member of the Education Ambassadors. She also was a member of the International Student Welcome Ambassadors, Christian Challenge leader and Writing Center tutor. A member of the University Honors Program, McFadden received the Foundation Plus and Wabash Cannonball scholarships. Her service to the community included volunteering at Sunday school and two church-based summer camps and working as a Spanish tutor at a local elementary school.
• Jordyn Burke, elementary education, Shawnee, is being recognized as a College of Education Outstanding Future Teacher Award recipient. She served as vice president of communications for Pi Beta Phi sorority, co-recruitment chair for the college's Education Ambassadors; committee head of Silver Key, the sophomore honorary; and was on the membership team of Stand Up for Your Sister.
• Anna Richardson, education studies, St. Joseph, Missouri, is being recognized as a College of Education Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recipient. She served as political action consultant for the Kansas National Education Association-Aspiring Educators, pre-law ambassador, consultant and executive committee member for the Writing Center, learning assistant for the University Experience Course and chief panhellenic officer for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Richardson gave piano and swim lessons, worked at Sunflower CASA and volunteered with local organizations for various fundraisers. Richardson is among the college's early graduates in education studies and plans to attend law school and work toward equity in education. She has received a full-tuition scholarship to law school.
