Source: Janice Wissman, 785-532-5765, wissman@k-state.edu
Thursday, June 25, 2009
K-STATE'S COLLEGE OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES FOUR NEW GRADUATES FOR COMPLETING THE COLLEGE'S HONORS PROGRAM
MANHATTAN -- Four new graduates of Kansas State University's College of Education are being recognized for completing the college's honors program. The honorees, all May 2009 bachelor's graduates, are Jaimie Borntrager, Haven; Maria O'Halloran, Hesston; Cassandra Morrow, Overland Park; and Jessica Spare, St. John.
As members of the college's honors program, the four students completed honors courses and seminars, and an honors project under the guidance of a faculty member.
Borntrager, who received a degree in elementary education, graduated summa cum laude. While at K-State, she served as president and historian of K-State's student chapter of the Kansas National Education Association, KNEA-SP; was secretary of College of Education Ambassadors; and was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. She also volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Manhattan. Laurie Curtis, K-State assistant professor of elementary education, served as faculty adviser for Borntrager's honors research project, "Journey Toward Full-day Kindergarten: Transitions, Time and Teaching."
O'Halloran is a summa cum laude graduate in secondary education-mathematics and business education. At K-State, she served as president and secretary-treasurer of Pi Omega Pi, a national business education honor society; and was an active member of the Business Education Club and K-State's student chapter of the Kansas National Education Association, KNEA-SP. She also was a volunteer pianist for the choir at St Isidore's Catholic Student Center. David Allen, K-State associate professor of elementary education, served as faculty adviser for O'Halloran's honors research project, "Connections Between Differentiated Instruction and Mathematics Through Professional Development." O'Halloran will teach mathematics and computers at St. Jude Catholic Middle School in Wichita in the fall.
Morrow is a summa cum laude graduate in secondary education-mathematics. At K-State, she was secretary of the College of Education Ambassadors and a member of the College of Education Council. She served as scholarship chair and alumnae relations chair for her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. She also was director of the Greek Week Steering Committee; served as student vice president of K-State's chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, the national honor society; and was a member Mortar Board, the senior honor society, where she served as advice booklet co-hair. David Allen, associate professor of elementary education, served as Morrow's faculty adviser for her honors project, "Connections Between Differentiated Instruction and Mathematics Through Professional Development." Morrow will be a graduate teaching assistant for K-State's College of Education in the fall and will pursue a master's degree in curriculum and instruction.
Spare is a summa cum laude graduate in secondary education-mathematics. At K-State, she was active in Christian Challenge and volunteered as a tutor in the K-State Community Service Program. She was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an education honor society, and Phi Kappa Phi scholastic honor society. During her senior year, she studied abroad at the University of Canberra in Canberra, Australia. David Allen, K-State associate professor of elementary education, was faculty adviser for Spare's honors research project, "Connections Between Differentiated Instruction and Mathematics Through Professional Development." Spare will teach mathematics at Meade High School in the fall.
