A CSU student has died in a plane crash in Nepal, leaving a hole in the hearts of those who knew her.
Rojina Shrestha, along with her mother, father and younger sister, were among 22 people killed in her home country of Nepal on May 29, according to media reports.
The flight left the resort town of Pokhara, 200 km west of Kathmandu, according to media reports. The plane was on a scheduled 20-minute flight to the mountain town of Jomsom when it crashed near the town in an “area of deep gorges and mountains”, according to an Associated Press report on the ‘accident.
According to a preliminary investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, or CAAN, bad weather was the cause of the Tara Air Twin Otter turboprop crash.
Callie Slaughter was a co-teacher and a member of Strestha’s cohort, both pursuing their doctorates in cell and molecular biology at Colorado State University.
Slaughter said the trip to Nepal was the first time Strestha, 23, and her 20-year-old sister Rabina, who also studied in the United States, had been with their parents in Nepal in years.
“She was a very dear friend to me and a beautiful light in this world,” Slaughter wrote in an email. “She was a teacher, a student, a scientist and a wonderful friend. I will miss her very much.”
Slaughter said Stestha’s favorite TV show was ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and she was going to be teaching her friend to drive this summer because she had just gotten her license.
“She was trying to make a difference in this life,” Slaughter said. “I am in pain right now.”
Carol Wilusz, a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology and director of the Cellular and Molecular Biology program at CSU, wrote in an email to students in the program that Strestha transferred to CSU from Purdue in August. She was at the Snow Lab in Chemical and Biological Engineering and was working on her Ph.D. research project on the biology of synthetic proteins.
Wilusz wrote that part of the reason for the transfer was that Strestha was getting closer to his partner, Prasiddha (Sid) Shakya, who is studying for a doctorate in economics at CSU.
“Rojina was a valued and loved member of our freshman cohort and we will miss her terribly,” Wilusz wrote in the email, which was shared with the Coloradoan. “As we come to terms with this devastating loss, we will find ways to celebrate, remember and honor Rojina’s short life.”
Resources are available to provide support to all faculty, staff and students, Wilusz wrote.
Strestha is survived by Shakya and an older brother.
Living without gravity: CSU alumnus talks about life on the International Space Station
Journalist Miles Blumhardt seeks stories that impact your life. Whether it’s news, outdoors, sports – you name it, it wants to report it. Do you have a story idea? Reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt. Support his work and that of other Colorado journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
]]>In an effort to address a years-long teacher shortage made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, Newark Public Schools will raise starting salaries by $8,000 this fall, or about 15%, the district and local union announced. .
Raising the starting salary to $62,000 a year for entry-level teachers in the state’s largest school district is among several salary changes intended to attract new teachers and retain veterans.
The union and the district renegotiated salary increases under an existing contract that expires at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Without the raises, the starting salary in September would have been $55,469, down from $54,000 in September 2021, according to the union.
Officials said additional changes include raising the salaries of teachers already in the district to the new starting minimum if they earn less. All teachers, regardless of their current salary, will receive an additional $500 increase for each of the remaining two years of the contract, on top of the 3.5% annual increases originally provided for in the three-year contract.
Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León released a statement Thursday calling the agreement “historic.”
“As teacher shortages across the country have been exacerbated by the global pandemic, we at Newark are leveraging several strategies to attract and retain great teachers,” León said. “These new salaries will attract new talent and at the same time promote retention by increasing the salaries of experienced teachers.”
Newark Teachers Union president John Abeigon said Friday there were about 500 teaching vacancies in the district. That compares to the 2,951 positions currently filled, union officials said. They educate a total of just over 35,000 regular public school students.
Newark has another 20,000 students enrolled in charter schools, although their teachers are not paid by the district and are not eligible for increases announced this week.
Abeigon said the ongoing teacher shortage has resulted in larger class sizes and a heavier workload for teachers, both of which are detrimental to student education.
He was confident that the salary increases would help fill the staffing gap, especially with several nearby universities like Montclair State University and Kean University in the Union producing education graduates looking for jobs. a job in the fall.
Abeigon cautioned against comparing salaries too closely between districts, noting that New Jersey’s starting salary and teacher salary ranges are based on the local cost of living and other factors.
That said, the renegotiated salary increases appear to significantly boost Newark’s competitiveness, with the new starting salary more than $6,000 higher than the state’s average minimum wage of $55,469 for teachers with bachelor’s degrees in 2021-22, according to New Jersey School Boards. Association.
Abeigon said the $4 million costs of the starting salary hike and other increases would come from federal American Recovery Act funds earmarked explicitly for pandemic-related teacher recruitment and retention.
The pandemic has worsened the shortage of teachers in Newark and other districts, with dramatic changes in the job, including the demand for new skills required for distance learning and health concerns with the return of classes in person while the coronavirus and its variants remained in circulation.
But, Abeigon said, the virus has underscored the importance of public schools as a key part of the economy that allows parents to physically commute to work or attend to work while working from home. .
For Newark, where understaffing had been an issue long before the coronavirus demanded educational and societal changes, Abeigon said a silver lining from the pandemic could finally fill a persistent compensation-related staffing gap that the negotiations had failed to resolve.
“We’ve had these discussions for several years now,” he said. “The COVID pandemic has just brought it to the fore.”
No one knows Jersey better than NJcom. Sign up to receive news alerts straight to your inbox.
Steve Strunsky can be reached at [email protected]
]]>The College of Charleston is delighted to welcome its newest staff members. They come to the College with an impressive amount of experience and enthusiasm – and they are all excited to put it all to good use within the CofC community! Please welcome these new colleagues (listed alphabetically below) to the Cougar family!
Maddox Johnston, Institutional Effectiveness
Maddox Johnston ’20 (MS ’22)
Director of Accreditation Survey and Research, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Background: I grew up in Charleston, where I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mathematical Science (with a concentration in statistics) from the College of Charleston. Prior to accepting this position, I worked as a graduate assistant for CofC’s math department while completing my master’s, where I was responsible for teaching a 110S (College Algebra Support) math class and tutoring in the math lab at the Student Learning Center. .
Interests: I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking and fishing. I also like to play and study chess.
Looking forward: I look forward to spending time on CofC’s beautiful campus and continuing to live in my hometown.
Calvin Joyner, Student Leadership Center
Calvin Joyner
Associate Director of Student Leadership, Higdon Student Leadership Center
Background: I’m originally from Columbia, South Carolina. I received my undergraduate degree from Coastal Carolina University and my graduate degree from Walden University. Before coming to the College of Charleston, I was director of student activities at Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia.
Interests: In my spare time, I like to travel, try new things and read. As for hobbies, I like cooking, reading, writing, researching different subjects, studying music, and taking naps.
Looking forward: I look forward to meeting the students and developing my network with my colleagues.
Elijah McCoy, Student Life
Elijah McCoy
Assistant Director of Student Engagement in Student Programming and Media, Office of Student Life
Background: I’m from Macon, Georgia, but have lived in Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, and Illinois. Before coming to the College of Charleston, I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts from Stetson University. Discovering my passion for student development, I studied and earned a Master of Education in Higher Education Student Affairs at Western Carolina University. In the field, I gained expertise in student organization support and policy, campus programming, student government advising, new student orientation, leadership development, education and diversity assessment.
Interests: I like to travel, listen to music, hang out with my friends, work on graphic design projects and watch Netflix.
Looking forward: In my role, I look forward to helping our students develop transferable skills such as programming, marketing, event planning, communications, and student media.
Estacia Sanders-Hernández, upwards
Estacia “Stacia” T. Sanders-Hernandez
Academic Advisor, Upward Bound
Background: I’m originally from Charleston, South Carolina. I spent many years after high school exploring and learning about people and different cultures around the world. I believe that learning happens inside and outside the classroom. You could see how my life experiences shaped my career as I worked for many years with minority populations in education and community development. I continue to bring the world into learning environments by learning from my colleagues as well as students. Additionally, I encourage my students to continue learning beyond the textbook and sharing their knowledge with each other. I believe we should meet each individual where they are and help them on their journey by providing them with the educational tools necessary to succeed in the classroom and in life. I have held various positions at technical colleges in South Carolina: Disability Coordinator, Title IX Coordinator, and Academic Specialist. I have taught junior high school seminary classes, adult education classes, and most recently high school English and Spanish at Holly Hill Academy. Years ago, I taught Spanish in the Upward Bound program at Appalachian State University. Prior to being full time with Upward Bound, I taught Spanish here, Upward Bound at the College of Charleston, for about four years.
Interests: I focus on quality of life and being one with nature. I’ve been in the Berkeley 4-H program for eight or nine years. Every year my children and I try to grow vegetables. We also planted about six fruit trees. Sometimes gardening is great fun, but there are times when nature (insects) eats more of our gourds than we do. Preserving our natural environment and building self-sufficiency is important to me and my future little farmers (my sons), and I think it will be important to American farmers. I think everyone should grow their own food or even raise a cow. or two. My sons and I work to the cow (smile).
Looking forward: The focus here is on culture, history as well as new innovations. I look forward to the collaboration and knowledge sharing among colleagues, students, and the learning environment that the College of Charleston has.
Michele Villante, facilities management
Michelle Villante
Administrative Coordinator to the Vice President, Facilities Management
Background: I’m from Greene, a small town in central New York (very rural – not NYC). I moved to Charleston in September and have family on Johns Island. Previously, I worked as an Administrative Assistant – Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools – and also a District Clerk for the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District.
Interests: I love living here in Charleston, and I especially love the beach. I am a part time artist, creating stained glass mosaic bricks, stepping stones and mirrors.
Looking forward: I am truly thrilled to work for such a historic institution where I can have a new opportunity for growth and service.
Becca Whited, Student Leadership Center
Becca Blanched
Office Manager and Student Organization Travel Coordinator, Higdon Student Leadership Center
Background: I am originally from northeast Ohio and moved to Charleston in the fall of 2019. Prior to coming to Charleston, I completed a master’s degree in adult education and development from the State University of Cleveland in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Ashland University in 2013. While at Cleveland State, I worked as a graduate facility rental/aquatic and safety supervisor and in as office manager at the Cleveland State University Recreation Center. While at Ashland University, I was a hardworking student at the Ashland University Recreation Center and was involved in several student organizations including Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Dietetic Association student and Habitat for Humanity.
Interests: In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my dog Ava, venturing to Charleston County parks and local beaches, trying Charleston’s great restaurants, reading, and traveling.
Looking forward: Some things that excite me are joining such a great and welcoming team, working at such a historic college, and being able to enjoy unique and beautiful buildings and landscapes every day.
Maura Woods, Career Center
Maura Wood
Career Coach, Career Center
Background: I’m originally from the small coastal town of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, but have spent the past eight years living and working in Boston. After being the first member of my family to graduate from college (I attended UConn – go Huskies!), I went on to earn my Masters of Education at Boston University and become a Special Education Teacher to college. After a few years, I changed careers and moved into a consulting and management role in a non-profit organization, where I had the privilege of supporting students who were the first in their families to attend the university!
Interests: I love to travel and just finished a four month road trip across the country with my wife – we visited about 15 national parks (I had never been before this trip)! When I’m not traveling, you can find me at the beach, trying new dishes, hanging out with friends, and trying to keep my plants alive.
Looking forward: I remember feeling overwhelmed as an undergraduate with my major, interests, and potential career path, so I’m excited to support our students on their own journeys! Relationships are important to me, so getting to know our students, staff, and community partners at the College of Charleston is something I look forward to.
The Inquiry Committee has found partial evidence on allegations of sexual harassment by two students against Professor Bishnu Kumar Adhikary of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) at Rajshahi University (UK).
The university administration, in a punitive action, suspended his four-year raise and promotion at the union’s 514th meeting on Sunday night, May 29.
Union member and assistant professor of law at RU Sadiqul Islam said the inquiry committee concluded that the sexual and mental harassment allegations of the two students were partly true.
He added that Bishnu Adhikary was also warned in a letter officially on behalf of the university administration.
Two students from the IER department had sent letters to the university authority in 2019, complaining about Bishnu’s conduct. A three-member body was then formed to investigate the allegations.
Bishnu was also temporarily suspended from all academic activities.
Later, the victims filed separate General Logs (GD) with Motihar Police Station on June 28 this year. They were reportedly pressured to withdraw the complaint.
A human chain formed on July 1, 2019 demanding immediate action and exemplary punishment of the accused.
]]>
A WINNING COMBINATION – Tom Bane, far right, Brooke County Teacher of the Year, was recognized along with members of the Brooke High School chapter of SKILLS USA for their outstanding performance in the West Virginia SKILLS USA competition. Along with Bane, far left, who was named State Councilor of the Year, are, left to right, Autumn Beatty co-counsellor Thomas Olenick, who won a bronze medal; Izabella Jordan and Alexis Woodling, who won gold medals and will compete in the national competition in June.
By WARREN SCOTT
Personal editor
WELLSBURG — A Brooke High School teacher who applied his private sector work experience to help students prepare for the job market was among several staff and students recognized by the Brooke County School Board on Monday .
It was a good year for Thomas Bane, who was named Brooke County Schools Teacher of the Year and West Virginia SKILLS USA Advisor of the Year.
Bane, who teaches high school engineering, had worked as a computer programmer and financial analyst, among other things, in South Florida when he was attracted by a classified ad for a job teaching at a private school.
The Burgettstown native recalled learning math with Marge Cowden, a fourth-grade teacher at the old Eldersville Elementary School, and being able to help his classmates with their work.
“Thanks to his influence, I became an engineer and a teacher”, said Bane, now in his 23rd year of teaching.
After teaching in private school, he was able to use his workforce experience and graduate credits from Marshall University to secure career technical educator positions first in the county of Mingo, W.Va., and later Brooke High School, where he was employed for five years.
Since coming to school, he has served as an advisor for the school’s chapter of SKILLS USA, a national organization that encourages students to develop personal and professional skills that will serve them well in their future careers.
Under Bane and co-counsellor Autumn Beatty, the chapter became the first in West Virginia to be named a model of excellence by the national organization.
He said the honor is the result of the hard work of past and present students in the chapter.
Bane noted that about five members, mostly in the engineering program, worked to recruit others, bringing the club’s membership to 40 students enrolled in nine high school career preparation programs.
Members have participated in a variety of competitions at the regional, state and national levels.
At the SKILLS USA State Conference held at Fairmont State University in March, gold medals were won by Alexis Woodling, for his knowledge of first aid/cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and Kyrsten Myers, for his knowledge of early childhood education.
The school’s other state winners were: Thomas Olenick, who won a bronze medal for technical drawing; and Izabella Jordan, who won a silver medal for medical terminology.
The categories reflect the wide range of vocational skills acquired by students in the group, which are incorporated into the school’s vocational technical training program.
But Bane said participating in this program also teaches students about leadership, teamwork and community service.
He said the Brooke SKILLS USA chapter ranks among the top eight in the nation for leadership training activities. He added that at a time when the pandemic limited most students’ school participation in virtual home schooling, members collected approximately 1,000 canned goods and toiletries for Urban Mission Ministries in Steubenville and partnered to the school’s Technology Students of America chapter to participate in the Adopt-a-Highway Program.
Bane said that as a teacher and counselor, he sees his role as a guide to help students master their skills and pursue their goals as a group.
“They make the decisions. My job is to help them along the way,” he said, adding “It’s all the kids. It’s my job to be their cheerleader.
Bane said he was honored to be named County Teacher of the Year by colleagues at Brooke High School, which he said has many dedicated and caring teachers.
Superintendent Jeffrey Crook and the school board also recognized Theresa “JT” Taylor, attending Brooke Primary North, as the District Service Staff of the Year.
The honor goes to staff who support school operations as secretaries, nurses, bus drivers and other non-teaching positions.
Jo-Ellen Connolly, principal of the school, said Taylor had shown a high level of care for the special needs students she had worked with at the school since 2013.
“She loves it so much. She is so passionate about children that she attends West Liberty University to get a degree in special education,” said Connolly.
“I would like to be a special education teacher” confirmed Taylor, who also worked as a substitute for the school district.
She said she became interested in working with students with special needs in her youth through a nanny who had worked with them.
The board also recognized Lorelei Costlow, an eighth-grader at Brooke Middle School who placed first regionally at the West Virginia Social Studies Fair and third among hundreds of students competing at the the state.
Ryan Garbin, his teacher, said Costlow and other middle school students were asked to give a lecture and visual presentation, as individuals or as a team, on any social studies topic and were asked to document their resources. .
He said there was a wide range of topics, from the Black Death, which was discussed by Costlow, to the history of women’s football, which was covered by fellow Brooke Middle students Andrea Bolen and Ivy Myers. , who also participated in the regional event, which involved schools throughout the north of the enclave.
Costlow included in his presentation a map mapping the many areas affected by the plague and a leather mask worn by doctors with a distinctive bird-shaped beak that contained herbs meant to filter infected air.
School officials also noted that Brooke Middle School was named a Distinguished Gateway School by Project Lead the Way, a national non-profit organization that provides a curriculum for schools designed to encourage students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Lead the Way project units include Automation and Robots, Building Computer Applications, Energy and Environment, Flight and Space, Green Architecture, and Medical Detectives.
Brooke Middle is one of 134 schools across the United States to receive this honor because it offers at least one unit for grades 6-8, over 50% of their students have participated in a unit during the 2020-21 school year, and at least 25 percent of their students have participated in two units.
The school’s participation in the program is coordinated by faculty members Keith Huntzinger, Amy Ludewig, Julie Dennis and Kim Nielsen.
Ludewig said, “We are very happy with this honour. We have worked with the county school board office to ensure that our students are offered a wide range of electives that will connect to building a strong foundation for high school, college, and careers.
In other business, the board accepted a $125,932 bid from Lauttamus Communications and Security to replace the electronic key entry system for all county schools. Steve Mitchell, the district’s building and grounds supervisor, said the current system will become obsolete.
The council also accepted an offer of $326,860 from Combustion Services and Equipment Co. to update the district’s computer-managed heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
(Scott can be contacted at [email protected].)
Victims shot and killed at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday include 19 children – at least three of whom were fourth graders – and two teachers trying to protect them, relatives told media.
Students and educators were days away from the end of the school year when they were gunned down Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, west of San Antonio.
Eva Mireles, who taught fourth grade, had been an educator for 17 years, according to her profile at Robb Elementary.
Mireles was “trying to protect her students” from the shooter, an insider told The New York Times.
This came as no surprise to Mireles’ cousin, Amber Ybarra.
“She’s a hero,” she said on NBC’s “TODAY” show on Wednesday.
“Her cooking was amazing. Her laughter was contagious and she will be missed,” added Ybarra. “She put her heart into everything she did.”
Lydia Martinez Delgado, Mireles’ aunt, said her niece was an avid hiker who took pride in teaching Latino students, The Times reported.
Martinez Delgado told KSAT-TV of San Antonio that she was “furious” about the shooting and others, saying, “These kids are innocent. Guns should not be readily available to everyone. This is my hometown, a small community of less than 20,000 people. I never imagined that this would happen especially to loved ones.
Mireles’ co-teacher, Irma Garcia, was killed, according to her son, Christian Garcia.
Irma Garcia taught at the school for 23 years, according to her school profile. In 2019, she was one of 19 San Antonio-area teachers named finalists for a Trinity University award that recognizes excellence in teaching. Garcia had four children and loved barbecuing with her husband and listening to music.
His son said a law enforcement friend who was at the scene saw Garcia protecting his students.
Three fourth-grade students were also among the dead, relatives confirmed to the media.
Uziyah Garcia was identified by his aunt, Nikki Cross, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported.
Xavier Lopez, 10, had attended an awards ceremony with his mother hours before filming, KSAT reported.
Amerie’s father Jo Garza identified her to NBC News as one of the victims. She was about to complete fourth grade, according to KSAT.
Amerie Jo was shot while dialing 911 in an effort to help her classmates, her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, told The Daily Beast.
Arreola said authorities and survivors told her the shooter told the students, “you’re going to die,” and Amerie Jo grabbed her phone to call police. “And instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood,” Arreola said.
Amerie Jo had earlier in the day received a certificate for making the honor roll.
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, a third-grade student was killed, family members told KHOU of Houston.
The other 15 children who were killed were not immediately identified.
“My heart was broken today,” Hal Harrell, headmaster of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School, told reporters. “We are a small community. And we will need your prayers to get us out of this.
The shooter allegedly shot his grandmother before driving to the school and “shooting everyone in front of him,” said Lt. Chris Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The grandmother was hospitalized in critical condition, he said.
More than a dozen other people, including children and law enforcement officers, were also injured.
Janelle Griffith, Kurt Chirbas, Irene Byon, Sara Mhaidli, Elisha Fieldstadt and Daniel Arkin contributed.
Gustavus Adolphus College Professor of Psychological Sciences, Dr. Lauren Hecht, was named the 2022 recipient of the Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching during the College’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21. The award is the College’s highest honor for teaching excellence.
“In graduate school, after a long, fortuitous journey, supported by my family and undergraduate and graduate faculty mentors, I finally discerned my career as a college professor. From that moment on, I strived to be the best teacher and mentor for students, to be like those who received this honor before me,” Hecht said. “Across campus, the professors do an incredible job, and with every graduation, we recognize one of them. I remember them. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined joining their ranks.
Political science professor Dr. Kate Knutson, 2020 Carlson Prize winner, introduced Hecht at the launch event.
“I have observed this person teaches more than once and every time I review a program and walk into his class I am inspired by creativity, intentionality and Warning to the details that go into every course and every class session,” Knutson said in his announcement before revealing Hecht as the winner. “I to see students test ideas they have read in preparation for the lesson and listen engaging them in lively discussions about the material; you can almost to taste the enthusiasm for learning that is the direct result of this teacher’s efforts to create a safe, supportive and rigorous learning environment.
Dr. Lauren Hecht at the start after being named the 2022 recipient of the Edgar M. Carlson Award.
Hecht is a cognitive psychologist who studies sensation, perception and attention. In addition to her teaching and research mentorship of undergraduate students at Gustavus, she is currently the director of the first term seminar program. Hecht’s service on the Curriculum Committee, Faculty Development Committee, and Academic Operations Committee of the Gustavus Faculty has given him an in-depth understanding of College operations and the impact that decisions have. on students, and she continually uses this information to advocate for processes that support faculty mentorship. and student engagement.
“Gustavus is filled with great teachers who care about the students, so what defines [Dr. Hecht] a share?” Knutson continued.”[She] doesn’t just teach students. A colleague describes her as “an expert in creating and sharing pedagogical approaches to help us become better teachers”. In fact, I would go so far as to say that many teachers see her as the go-to person for questions about teaching, advising and understanding the program, especially as we transition to a new teaching program. general over the past two years. . As a colleague notes, [Lauren] has “broad tentacles of influence on campus,” and she has used that influence to make us all better teachers and counselors. »
“I am fortunate to be at a college that recruits students who value intellectual curiosity and are willing to invest in their learning. Students are the reason I succeed. When I ask them to join me in trying a new method of teaching or mentoring, they agree. In case of failure, they forgive. And when that succeeds, they grow,” Hecht said. “Every member of the Gustavus community faced at least one challenge this year – perhaps it was the realization that the routines forged three years ago had become insufficient, or adapting to a different system or procedure. Winning this award, this year, is a recognition of the resilience, not only of my own, but also of the courage and determination of the Gusties I have worked with on campus, of the students at staff to colleagues.
Hecht majored in psychology (with honors) and philosophy during her undergraduate experience at Albion College in Michigan. She holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Iowa. A member of the Gustavus community since 2010, Hecht previously taught classes at Grinnell College and the University of Iowa. Six of its former research students have obtained (or are obtaining) their doctorates, while many others have obtained graduate degrees in fields ranging from psychology and public health to food sciences and theology.
The Edgar M. Carlson Award was established by the Gustavus Board of Trustees in 1971 to honor former President Edgar Carlson for his years of distinguished leadership and in recognition of his commitment to academic excellence. Gustavus faculty, staff, administrators, and students nominate faculty for this award, and each beginning year a faculty member, selected by the provost based on recommendations from previous recipients, is honored for their skills. and his exceptional efficiency as an instructor.
Recent Carlson Award Recipients
2022: Lauren Hecht, psychological sciences
2021: Phil Bryant, English
2020: Kate Knutson, political science
2019: Margaret Bloch Qazi, Biology
2018: Greg Kaster, History
2017: Pamela Kittelson, Biology
2016: Eric Carlson, History
2015: David Obermiller, History
2014: Matt Panciera, Classics
2013: Rebecca Fremo, English
2012: Alisa Rosenthal, Political Science
2011: Barbara Zust, nursing
2010: Leila Brammer, communication studies
A complete list of past Carlson Prize winners dating back to 1971 is available online.
###
Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communications JJ Akin
[email protected]
507-933-7510
Morning Paper/Deanne Johnson Dr. David Dees, dean of Kent State University’s Columbiana County campuses in Salem and East Liverpool, delivered his final commencement address earlier this week after deciding to step down and return to class on the Kent campus.
SALEM — Helping students find those “ahah” moments, when the lessons kick in and the lights come on – that’s what Dr. David Dees wants to get back to doing.
“There’s nothing better than watching a student get it,” said the Guilford Lake resident.
Dees has served as Dean and Administrative Director of Kent State University’s Columbiana campuses, Salem and East Liverpool, since June 1, 2017, but is leaving on August 5 and returning to his role at the Kent campus as a full professor at the School. of Foundations, Leadership and Administration at the College of Education, Health and Human Services. He will also teach in one of the doctoral programs, Interprofessional Leadership.“I’m hyped. It’s bittersweet. I loved being Dean, I love Columbiana County. I really miss the class,” he said.
As dean, he didn’t have the same connection to the students that he had as a teacher and he missed seeing those “ahah” moments.“It was a good time to change and return to my first passion of teaching students and being in the classroom”, he said.
Dees got his first taste of teaching shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Kentucky, spending time as a teaching assistant for an introductory theater class. He then earned his master’s degree in theater at the University of Kentucky and joined Kent State University in 1991, earning his doctorate. in the cultural foundations of education. He previously served as director of Kent State’s Center for Teaching and Learning.
As dean, Dees founded the Rising Scholars program, formerly known as Rural Scholars, which takes in junior high students and follows them through high school, exposing them to educational experiences to prepare to life after graduation. The program also includes scholarships for the Salem and East Liverpool campuses for students completing Rising Scholars.
Dees is proud of the program because of how it is privately funded, involves the community, and supports students. It is now present in all schools in Columbiana County, and this local success has led to the expansion of the program to all KSU regional campuses.
Some of his other successes as Dean include starting the College in a Day program for students to come to campus and learn about higher education, the bi-campus career day program with local Rotary clubs , STEAM Day for K-5 students. and the home of the Columbiana County Envirothon.
He is especially proud of how everyone has welcomed him as Dean and he is proud of the team he is leaving behind.
“We have reconnected with the community” he said. With the return to teaching comes the return to research, which Dees is also looking forward to doing, including researching the impact of the Rising Scholars program. He is also eager to study how students learn and what that means for college education.
Even with the pandemic, the college has continued to reinvest in facilities and stay strong, providing students with scholarships and quality programs. The college continued to find ways to persevere and cut costs. There has also been a focus on security, with improvements to physical space and security and relationships with Salem and East Liverpool Police Departments. There is also a full-time mental health counselor who covers both campuses.
“I always want people to know how awesome these campuses are,” he said.
Dees noted that students at the Salem and East Liverpool campuses receive a quality education in Kent, but with more personal attention in smaller, lower-cost classrooms closer to home. He loved being the dean of Columbiana County campuses, but said “It’s time for a new adventure.”
His wife, Jennifer, is a sixth grade teacher at Southeast School in the Salem City School District. They have two daughters, Haley, an aerospace technology student at Kent State, and Katie, a sophomore at United High School.
Dees will still live in Columbiana County and is already working on the transition.
Brad Bielski, dean of the KSU Tuscarawas campus, will become acting dean of the Salem and East Liverpool campuses beginning August 6 and will continue to serve at the Tuscarawas campus in New Philadelphia. He has already met with faculty and staff as well as local advisory boards.
Teachers study the landscape at Hosmer Grove Lookout in Haleakala National Park. NPS picture
Maui News
Haleakala National Park is seeking a K-12 Hawaiian Immersion Instructor to participate in the “Teacher-Ranger-Teacher-Program” this summer.
The selected teacher will spend between four and six weeks in the park developing a Hawaiian language field trip lesson and participating in an online graduate course from the University of Colorado Denver.
Upon completion of the project, the teacher will receive a $3,000 stipend and three graduate course credits from the University of Colorado at Denver.
The professional development program will be equivalent to approximately 240 hours of field course development and online courses.
Applications must be received no later than May 28. The participant can expect to start working at the park in June.
For more information or to get an application, email [email protected].
The program is a partnership between the National Park Service and the University of Colorado at Denver and is designed to connect national parks and school teachers with underserved student populations.
-
![]()
-
Teachers study the landscape at Hosmer Grove Lookout in Haleakala National Park. NPS picture
]]>
PHILADELPHIA — The Catholic Charities Appeal joins forces with the Philadelphia Phillies for its 9th annual “CCA Night with the Phillies” at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia on Thursday, June 30. The game, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves, will start at 6:17 p.m.
A portion of the proceeds from all tickets sold through a dedicated link will directly benefit CCA grantee programs that provide support for homeless people, students with special needs, food cupboards, after-school programs, and more.
Seats will be located in the outfield (sections 101-107) at $38 per ticket, the pavilion (sections 201-205) at $30 per ticket and the pavilion deck (section 310) at $20 per ticket.
If 500 or more tickets are sold, a student at Our Lady of Confidence Special Education School, a CCA recipient, will throw the first pitch for the game. In addition, a CCA beneficiary will sing the national anthem.
Those interested in supporting the ACC by purchasing tickets to the game can visit https://www.mlb.com/phillies/tickets/specials/catholic-charities.
DCCC
Delaware County Community College and Wilkes University, based in Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County, have signed an articulation agreement that will allow qualified Delaware County Community College graduates who earn an Associate of Arts in Education from early childhood to transition seamlessly as juniors into Wilkes University’s bachelor’s degree program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education.
This is the first such agreement between the two higher education institutions, and it comes at a time when Pennsylvania is short of early childhood education teachers, considered high priority professions for the Commonwealth.
The new agreement eliminates duplication of coursework to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary and early childhood education leading to a certification for teaching pre-kindergarten through fourth grade (PreK-4). The agreement also removes the need for course-by-course assessment and uses competency standards based on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s PreK-4 framework guidelines for associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. In addition, the agreement allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree online and makes available state-funded teacher training and compensation supports. Early Years Scholarship for child care center staff and home child care providers. It includes an 18-credit minor in reading instruction, preparing students to become highly effective educators.
Qualified Delaware County Community College students may transfer credits to Wilkes University as long as they have adhered to the program-to-program course transfer guidance scheme agreed to by the two schools; maintain at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.0; pass the Praxis, Core or PAPA; and meet other program requirements. Some of the courses that will be transferred from college to university include Introduction to Special Education, which will be accepted into the university’s special needs education program, and Care and Education of infants and toddlers, who will be accepted in the first year of college. Foundations program. A total of 124 credits is required to graduate from Wilkes University’s bachelor’s degree.
For more information about Delaware County Community College, visit http://www.dccc.edu. For more information about Wilkes University, visit http://www.wilkes.edu.
Delaware County Foundation announces over $1.75 million to local nonprofits
In its fourth major grantmaking cycle, the Delaware County Foundation announced more than $1.4 million in new impact grants to 51 area nonprofits and 11 impact grants year two totaling more than $369,000, for a total of more than $1.75 million invested in nonprofits serving Delaware County.
Grants have been awarded in the following areas:
Children’s Health and Welfare, $774,853; Community and economic development, $235,000; Food Security, $236,500; Palliative care and home care, $66,000; Cancer. $22,500; and Year Two Payments to 2021 Impact Beneficiaries, $369,435.
“We are thrilled to award more than $1.4 million to 51 deserving organizations providing essential services in Delaware County,” said Frances Sheehan, president of the foundation. “The nonprofits that received grants will tackle some of Delaware County’s most critical issues, including behavioral health, childhood trauma, maternal health, education, food security , housing stability and the environment.” Sheehan went on to emphasize that “The Foundation for Delaware County focuses on areas of acute need in our community, supporting organizations and initiatives that bring lasting change. We are deeply committed to being a resource for local nonprofits, now and for the long term. »
A complete list of awarded grants is available on the Foundation for Delaware County website: http://delcofoundation.org.
A public charity founded in 2016, the Delaware County Foundation is the largest philanthropic organization serving Delaware County. One of 780 community foundations across the United States, the foundation encourages philanthropy by providing effective giving vehicles such as donor-advised funds, charitable annuities, and estate planning advice to generous individuals who want to make an impact in Delaware County and beyond. The foundation serves as a convener across sectors to address difficult community issues such as the need for a county health department.
The foundation operates the new Center for Nonprofit Excellence and provides grants to strengthen Delaware County’s nonprofit community.
With headquarters in media and service locations in Eddystone, Upper Darby, and Springfield, the Delaware County Foundation also operates the prestigious evidence-based programs Healthy Start, the WIC Nutrition Program, and the Nurse-Family Partnership. Other programs include El Centro (a Hispanic Resource Center), a Chester Upland School District Student Health Resource Center, and the new Housing Opportunities for Equity (HOPE) program. To learn more, visit the foundation on the web at http://www.delcofoundation.org and follow it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @DelcoFdn.
‘Evening With The Divas’ Pays Tribute to Janis Joplin, Barbra Streisand, Tina Turner and More
Host Joe Staffieri, host and master of ceremonies, will present “An Evening with the Divas,” at 4 p.m., Sunday, June 19, at The Oaks Ballroom, 511 W. Oak Lane, Glenolden. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., dinner starts at 4 p.m. and the show at 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $55, which includes the buffet dinner, show, and cash bar. Anyone over the age of 21 is welcome and encouraged to buy early as it is expected to sell out quickly.
The show will feature tribute artists Suzette Dorsey as Tina Turner, Debbie Feeser as Barbra Streisand, April Young as Janis Joplin, Lori St. Martin as Olivia Newton John and Tommy C. as The Voice of Tribute.
For tickets or more information, call Joe at 610-745-2672.
Darby Colwyn Class of ’66 holds a reunion
The Darby Colwyn Class of 1966 will hold their 56th reunion, 8-11 p.m., Saturday, October 29, at the Yard Pub, West Chester Pike, Havertown.
The $30 ticket price includes buffet dinner and cash bar. To attend, send checks payable to: Elaine Kilian at 113 Forest Ave., Folsom, PA 19033. For details, contact [email protected].
Quizzo Night benefits the Domestic Violence Project
A Quizzo Game Night to benefit the Delaware County Domestic Violence Project will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 19 at the Delaware County Bar Association, 335 W. Front St., Media. Doors open at 6 p.m. The cost is $35. Teams are limited to a maximum of five.
The top two teams will win Amazon gift cards. The event is BYO for snacks and drinks. Water will be provided. For more information, call 610-565-4590 or email [email protected].
Readers can email community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at [email protected].
]]>