Childhood Education Student Named Presidential Scholar

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Kathryn Allison, with her mother, Patty Wright, is the Presidential Scholar this year in the College of Education and Health Professions.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kathryn Allison of Houston is the Presidential Scholar for the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas this year.

Each year, the university recognizes one student in each college as a Presidential Scholar based on grade-point average. The award was established in recognition of the investiture of James E. Martin as president of the university in 1980. The winner receives $1,500.

The College of Education and Health Professions will honor its top students in a ceremony Wednesday, April 18, at the Fayetteville Town Center.

"The faculty and staff look forward each year to the opportunity to congratulate our students for their hard work and dedication," said Tom Smith, dean of the college. "These students will serve our state and nation well as nurses, educators, researchers and human service professionals."

Allison is a junior majoring in childhood education. She is the daughter of Bobby and Patty Wright of Houston.

Allison is treasurer of Sigma Phi Lambda, the Christian sorority on campus. She is also involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and plans to go to Thailand with the group this summer. She received the college's Lulu and James Westpheling Scholarship for the current school year.

After she graduates, Allison plans to apply to Teach for America, a nonprofit organization that enlists recent college graduates and professionals to teach for two or more years in low-income communities in the United States.

"I have such a passion to give all students an opportunity for a great, fun education," she said. "Through Teach for America, I believe I could live this out. This has been a dream of mine since high school." 

Caitlyn Rutledge

Caitlyn Rutledge, a junior, and Heather Toombs, a sophomore, won the Henry G. and Stella Hotz Awards in the college.

Rutledge, of Aledo, Texas, is also majoring in childhood education. Her parents are Clifton and Christy Rutledge. She was vice president of member education for Kappa Delta Sorority in 2010-11 and was an orientation mentor last year. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the education honor society, and the 2010-11 Associated Student Government Academic Standards Student Cabinet.

She plans to enter the Master of Arts in Teaching program in the College of Education and Health Professions and pursue a career as an elementary school teacher.

Toombs, of Green Forest, is majoring in nursing. She is the daughter of Jon and Kaylynn Toombs. She has been on the Chancellor's List for two years and received the Winthrop Rockefeller Scholarship and the University Academic Scholarship. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and will work as an orientation mentor this summer.

Heather Toombs

Toombs plans to be married this summer. After graduating from the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, she would like to work in Northwest Arkansas. She plans to pursue a master's degree in nursing and to work as a family nurse practitioner in a rural area.

The college's first-ranked senior scholars are Corrie Rose Bailey, Cassie M. Glidewell, Lisa M. Lunkenheimer, Jessica Marie Roy and Lesley Megan Skinner. Jennifer Carter is a Senior Scholar this year.

Students graduating from the Honors College are Corrie Rose Bailey, Rebekah Michelle Biles, Margaret Alissa Bodemann, Rebecca Marie Braun, Jillian H. Carroll, Leeanne E. Compere, Kaleigh R. Ellis, Shona R. Feistner, Kimberly L. Fiser, Rachel L. Fritsche, Cassie Morgan Glidewell, Luke R. Harewood, Sarah Kaminski, Elizabeth L. Milburn, Kristen E. Muller, Emily Clair Myers, Mary Alice Patton, Meagan Danielle Pestel, Jessica Marie Roy, Lesley Megan Skinner, Sydney Leanne Smith, Shanley Kate Taber, Kerri Lynn Taylor, Emma Lea Thomas, Emily A. Timpe, Kelly Jean Toner, Salem Olivia Vaught, Derek Harrison Wahl, Callie Wilson and Megan L. Wojcicki.

The College of Education and Health Professions is composed of five academic departments with more than 100 faculty members, the university’s recreation department, and 15 research and service units. For fall 2011, enrollment was 4,372 students, giving the college the second-largest enrollment on campus and the most graduate students.

The college will also honor the top students in each academic program:

• Curriculum and Instruction: Career and technical education, Meredith Mathews, master's, Betty Jo Smith, undergraduate; childhood education, Kaitlyn Datzman, Master of Arts in Teaching, Katy Stonesifer, undergraduate; curriculum and instruction, Feng Jiang, doctoral; educational leadership, Diana Peer, doctoral, Andy Ashley, education specialist, Sheila Walter, master's; educational technology, Jenni Eno, master's; elementary education, Kat Scantlin, undergraduate; secondary education, Lynnsey Molinaro, Master of Arts in Teaching; special education, Philomena Tanui, master's.

• Educational Statistics and Research Methods: Clay Johnson, doctoral, Lindsay Melia, master's.

• Eleanor Mann School of Nursing: Arkansas Nurses Association District 9 Award, Natale Yates; Betty Battenfield Award, Kelly Toner; Outstanding Graduate Student, Rachel Perkins; Outstanding Student Caregiver, Allison Lewis; Outstanding Student Manager, Dawn Larabee; Outstanding Student Teacher, Natale Yates; Pi Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society Award, Leeanne Compere.

• Health, Human Performance and Recreation: athletic training, Mike Sola, master's, Alyssa Romasco, master's; community health promotion, Rachel Avants, doctoral, Page Daniel, master's, Nathanael Irons, undergraduate; kinesiology, exercise science, Jacilyn Olson, doctoral, Ashley Binns, master's, Dameon Smith, undergraduate; kinesiology, pedagogy, Mark Mann, doctoral; kinesiology, physical education, Jenna White, master's; kinesiology, physical education, P-12, Reed Fogleman, undergraduate; recreation and sport management, Gi-Yong "Win" Koo, doctoral, Janna Hughes, master's, Emily Gilliam, undergraduate.

• Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders: adult and lifelong learning, Audrey Rapp, master's; communication disorders, Rachel Westlake, master's; Sydney Smith, undergraduate; counselor education, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Sigma Chi Iota member, Jason Thorne, doctoral, Bonni Behrend, master's; higher education, Amanda Moore, doctoral, Jessica E. Pope, master's; rehabilitation, David Whitten, doctoral, Jennifer Ragsdale, master's; workforce development, Shelli Henehan, doctoral, Chris Pigg, master's, Jennifer Gay, undergraduate.

The college will also recognize its Distinguished Doctoral Fellows and Doctoral Academy Fellows: Rachel Avants, Daniel Bowen, Alexandra Boyd, Stuart Buck, Daniel Burt, Jeffery Dean, Cassandra Dominick, Amanda Grimes, Donald Holzman, Aneeqa Ishtiaq, Anna Margaret Jacob, Clay Johnson, Jerry Leach, Martin Lueken, Shannon McCarthy, Michael McShane, Gregory Michel, Jonathan Mills, Jacilyn Olson, James Shuls, Jennifer Taylor-Medeiros and James Woodworth.