June 14, 2016
College of Human Ecology's David Thompson named Champion for Family and Consumer Sciences
David Thompson, assistant professor in family studies and human services, has been awarded the 2015 Champion for Family and Consumer Sciences award from the National Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences, or NATFACS. This national award is in recognition of Thompson's extraordinary support of family and consumer sciences. In March 2015, Thompson won the Champion award for the Kansas Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences, making him eligible for the national award.
Dorothy Durband, director of the School of Family Studies and Human Services, nominated David Thompson by stating, "[Thompson's] ability to engage in discussion and interaction facilitates students' learning and understanding of its relevance to their personal and professional lives. As one student wrote on his teaching evaluation, 'Passion is something you can't fake … You just get the feeling that he loves what he is teaching and he knows that each class that we come to there is an opportunity to have an impact on someone's life, and he doesn't want to miss a single opportunity … He focuses on interaction and application to everything we learn.'"
While Thompson's primary role at the university is preparing seniors with professional, marketable job skills and the internship program, because of his passion for these students and family and consumer sciences, he takes the time to bring educators and extension agents to speak to his classes and spends time career counseling students. Many of his students over the past two years have chosen to get involved with family and consumer sciences education following graduation. Thompson shares that this past semester two of his students have decided to move toward family and consumer sciences extension work.
Encouraging students doesn't stop with those at K-State as Thompson is also involved in working with high school students who may be considering going into family and consumer sciences. He has spoken twice to the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA, student gathering at K-State, Wild About FCS, encouraging them to consider helping make a difference in families by becoming family and consumer sciences educators. Thompson offers a job shadowing day which is available to high school students considering teaching as a career. Through this opportunity, these students attend classes and meet with teachers and administrators in the Colleges of Human Ecology and Education.