College of Education honors outstanding students
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
MANHATTAN — Nine new graduates of the College of Education at Kansas State University have been recognized for excellence and for promise in the education profession.
The students were honored at the college's commencement ceremony May 14. Five students received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award, which is given for outstanding leadership and scholarship; two students received the Outstanding Future Teacher Award, which recognizes their potential as future teachers; and two students received the Kansas State Department of Education Teacher of Promise Award for their work as pre-service teachers.
The following students, all May 2016 bachelor's degree recipients, were honored by the College of Education:
• Kelly Kristiansen, secondary education-mathematics, Lawrence, Kansas State Department of Education Teacher of Promise Award. A member of Kappa Delta Pi, the education honorary, Kristiansen served as president. She also was a member of the College of Education Ambassadors, serving as treasurer, and she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority, where she served as academic excellence chair and on the standards board. A 2012 graduate of Lawrence Free State High School, Kristiansen is the daughter of Susan Kristiansen, Lawrence.
• Hannah Splitter, elementary education, Sterling, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. A member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Splitter also was a Kansas Regents scholar and a Leadership Scholarship recipient. She was active in Christian Challenge and intramural sports at the university. Splitter is a 2012 graduate of Sterling High School and the daughter of Mark and Ruth Splitter, Sterling.
• Madeline Ginder, elementary education, Topeka, Outstanding Future Teacher Award in Elementary Education. A magna cum laude graduate of Kansas State University, Ginder received university semester honors from 2014-2016. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and on the K-State Classy Cats dance squad from 2012-2013. Ginder is the daughter of Rob and Liz Ginder, Topeka. She is a 2012 graduate of Washburn Rural High School.
• Robert Hamilton, music education, Topeka, Outstanding Future Teacher Award in Secondary Education. Active in music and music education, Hamilton was selected to perform at the National Collegiate Choral Organization as a member of the university's Men Choir and as a student speaker at the university's Rhapsody I Concert at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. He also was a section leader of the university's Concert Choir, and was a co-presenter at the Kansas Association for Middle Level Educators and at the Kansas Association of Music Educators conferences. He was a research aide for the college's science education program and was a classroom volunteer at Manhattan's Anthony Middle School and Northview Elementary School. A member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, he served as historian. He also was intramural swimming champion in 2010 and 2011. His community service includes performing at the Marian Clinic Benefit Concert in Topeka for seven years, serving as an assistant on a surgical mission to Haiti in 2010, and as a conducting assistant for the Flint Hills Masterworks Chorus in fall 2014. Hamilton, a 2009 graduate of Topeka High School, is the son of James and Sylvia Hamilton, Topeka.
• Sydney Ho, secondary education-mathematics, Topeka, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Ho was a member of the College of Education Ambassadors, serving as Experience Day co-chair. As a member of Mortar Board, the senior honor society, she served as director of the New Student Convocation, and as a member of Silver Key, the sophomore honorary, she served as treasurer. Ho also was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the education honorary, and the K-State Tap Dance Ensemble. She was a peer instructor for the University Experience and severed as an undergraduate teaching assistant and a resident assistant. She is the daughter of Samuel Ho and Jennifer Ho, both of Topeka, and a 2012 graduate of Washburn Rural High School.
• Jessica Zink, elementary education, Turon, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. A university honors list student from fall 2012 to spring 2016, Zink was the recipient of the Leadership Scholarship, College of Education Scholarship and College of Education Alumni Scholarship. She is a 2012 graduate of Stafford High School and the daughter of Larry and Laura Zink, Turon.
• Becky Brady, elementary education, Wichita, Kansas State Department of Education Teacher of Promise Award. A member of the College of Education Ambassadors, Brady served as president from 2014-2015. She also was a member of Blue Key, the senior honorary, serving as leadership programming co-director for the organization's high school leadership conference. Active in the university's Student Governing Association, Brady was executive initiatives director, an executive cabinet committee member, student affairs director, intern and intern coordinator, and Governmental Relations Committee member. She also served as campaign manager for a student body president-vice president campaign, and was the College of Education's representative to the Tuition and Fees Strategies Committee. As a member of the K-State Student Union Governing Board, she served as vice president, student-at-large member and a member of the Union Renovation Design Core Committee. As a member of the Union Corporation Board, she served as president and secretary. Active in Gamma Phi Beta sorority, she served as Philanthropy Day chair, assistant homecoming chair and with alumnae relations. Brady also volunteered as a tutor for at-risk student at the Douglass Community Center in Manhattan. In addition, she has been serving as a student assistant in the dean's office of the College of Education since 2012. The daughter of Patrick and Terry Brady, Wichita, Brady is a 2012 graduate of Bishop Carroll Catholic High School.
• Katelyn Meek, secondary education-social studies, Longmont, Colorado, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. A member of Kappa Delta Pi, the education honorary, Meek also was an inaugural member of the Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellow program and served as a LEAD 212 class leader. She was active in Women's Club Volleyball from fall 2012 to spring 2015, serving as co-president from spring 2013 to spring 2014. She also was a member of Cru campus ministry. Meek is the daughter of Marvin and Margaret Meek, Longmont, and a 2012 graduate of Niwot High School.
• Dan Zhang, secondary education-English, China, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. A member of Phi Kappa Phi academic honorary, Zhang is the daughter of Yueming Zhang and Fung Su, also of China. She is a 2011 graduate of Shenzhen Senior High School and attended South China Normal University.
