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Thirty students win State Farm teacher scholarships

July 9, 2008

KALAMAZOO--Thirty Western Michigan University students have been awarded $1,000 each from the State Farm Companies Foundation to support their participation as teacher interns during spring semester and were honored at a recent reception in Lansing, Mich.

Dr. Gary L. Wegenke, dean of the WMU College of Education, delivered the opening remarks at the reception, followed by State Farm's Chris Cressy, vice president-agency for the state of Michigan. They were joined by administrators from State Farm and WMU and by student recipients of State Farm-funded internships and their families. More than 100 people attended the annual banquet.

The internships were awarded through SUPT--WMU's School University Partnership Team. Students successfully completed teaching internships at school districts across southern Michigan. State Farm contributed $30,000 for scholarships for the University's SUPT program, which has been recognized nationally by the Association for Teacher Educators as a Distinguished Program in Teacher Education.

"We are pleased to be able to continue our support of this important program and to help these outstanding young men and women pursue their career goals," says State Farm's Cressy. "Today's education system is producing tomorrow's workforce, and State Farm is proud to again partner with WMU in cooperation with area public schools to provide outstanding learning opportunities for tomorrow's classroom teachers."

Through the SUPT program, special emphasis again was placed on locating interns in "urban schools of promise."

This past year, the State Farm Insurance Companies made contributions to WMU totaling $50,000, not including employee matching gifts. In addition to the $30,000 contributed for SUPT, State Farm gifts supported minority scholarships in the College of Education and Haworth College of Business as well as several ongoing initiatives in support of financial planning courses in the business college, including funding for the State Farm Professorship for Financial Services and a finance executive on loan.

State Farm Teaching Interns

Amanda J. Almy, a senior from Allegan, Mich., interned at Starr Elementary School in Plainwell, Mich.

April L. Barnum, a senior from St. Johns, Mich., interned at Green Meadow Elementary School in Comstock, Mich.

Andrea L. Baschal, a senior from Battle Creek, Mich., interned at Milwood Middle School in Kalamazoo.

Amanda Sue Becktel, a senior from Cloverdale, Mich., interned at Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo.

Irene J. Canca, a senior from Vandalia, Mich., interned at Norton Elementary School in Three Rivers, Mich.

Brett Closson, a senior from Benton Harbor, Mich., interned at Boynton Montessori School in Benton Harbor.

Cassandra Joy Cowels, a senior from Kalamazoo interned at Comstock Alternative High School in Comstock, Mich.

Micah L. Deam, a senior from St. Joseph, Mich., interned at Northeastern Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Jennifer A. Engman, a senior from Dollar Bay, Mich., interned at Patrick Henry Elementary School in Heidelberg, Germany.

Lisa M. Fisher, a senior from Muskegon, Mich., interned at Steele Middle School in Muskegon.

Mikel R. Gault, a senior from Comstock, Mich., interned at Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo.

Kimbely A. Harmon, a senior from Otisville, Mich., interned at Spring Valley Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Julie Ann Hughes, a senior from Portage, Mich., interned at Waylee Elementary School in Portage.

Emily A. Jones, a senior from Lake Orion, Mich., interned at Pepper Elementary School in Oak Park, Mich.

Ashlee M. Kalis, a senior from Portage, Mich., interned at Edison Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Rachael M. Kaluzny, a senior from Mattawan, Mich., interned at Paw Paw Middle School in Paw Paw, Mich.

Lauren Ann Kenny, a senior from Hoffman Estates, Ill., interned at Portage North Middle School in Portage, Mich.

Rebecca Lynn Kennedy, a senior from Baroda, Mich., interned at Edison Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Joyell B.King, a senior from Wyoming, Mich., interned at Coit Creative Arts Academy in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Ryan J. Minier, a senior from Reed City, Mich., interned at Portage Central High School in Portage, Mich.

Meredith J. Oosta, a graduate from Grand Rapids, Mich., interned at Lee High School in Wyoming, Mich.

Melissa M. Pierce, a senior from Harbor Springs, Mich., interned at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts in Kalamazoo.

Amy Elizabeth Poll, a senior from Zeeland, Mich., interned at Northeastern Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Jennifer L. Rausch, a senior from Lambertville, Mich., interned at Woodland Elementary School in Portage, Mich.

Cody L. Richard, a senior from Niles, Mich., interned at Washington Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Jessica D. Roe, a senior from Portage, Mich., interned at Northeastern Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Renee D. Roodvoets, a senior from Belmont, Mich., interned at Gull Lake High School in Richland, Mich.

Courtney N. Tetsworth, a senior from Big Rapids, Mich., interned at Lincoln Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Shaina S. Tubergan, a senior from Hamilton, Mich., interned at Gobles Elementary School in Gobles, Mich.

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

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