Field Placements is responsible for the coordination and oversight of all field experiences (internships, student teaching) associated with teacher education curricula.
The State Farm Foundation made it possible for us to provide financial assistance to 30 students who are interning during the Spring 2011 or Fall 2011 semesters. Awards, valued at $1,000 each, were made based upon the following criteria:
A reception was held Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Lansing to honor recipients of the State Farm Foundation Intern Teaching Scholarship as well as State Farm for its gift to the College of Education and Human Development. Legislators representing the hometowns of recipients attended this event which was hosted by WMU's Development Office. In addition, staff and faculty members of the College of Education and Human Development, student's family members, mentor teachers, and University Coordinators were present at this ceremony.
In honoring one of their coordinators, the Office of Field Placements has established the Terry Kuseske Intern Award. Terry Kuseske lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in September 2010. He had been very involved in community service, serving as a Kalamazoo City Commissioner.
Mentor teachers and coordinators were asked to nominate outstanding students who were interning during the fall semester. The screening committee received a total of seven nominations. The committee had stressed the importance of community involvement in honor of Terry’s commitment to his community. After reviewing the nomination packets, the committee selected Chad Kuhlmann and Kaiti Linton as winners for the fall semester. Both received a certificate and a $100 award.
Chad Kuhlmann was an intern in a seventh grade social studies class at Paw Paw Middle School. He was recognized for his creative ways of making learning fun. One example was how he secured a 4,000 pound block of concrete and logs from a local business to demonstrate how the Egyptians built the pyramids. His mentor teacher felt that Chad’s military background helped him gain control in the classroom. He demonstrated a fair, but firm, classroom management style.
Kaiti Linton interned for third grade at Sunset Lake Elementary School in Vicksburg. She was recognized for writing a Curiosity Grant that allowed the students to participate in a field trip to the Henry Ford Museum. She also volunteered to coach Battle of the Books, which extended through February 2001, two months beyond her internship. She is also planning to coach Girls on the Run this spring.
The Office of Field Placements hopes to secure funding in order to present this award to a deserving intern every semester. Terry Kuseske would have been proud to know that Western Michigan University interns are dedicated to serving others in the community.