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Twenty students win State Farm teacher scholarships

May 13, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Twenty Western Michigan University students recently were awarded $1,000 each from the State Farm Companies Foundation to support their participation as teacher interns during spring semester.

The students were honored at an April 22 reception and banquet at the Michigan Historical Center and Library in Lansing, Mich. That event featured remarks by Chris Cressy, State Farm vice president-agency for the state of Michigan and WMU President John M. Dunn. About 75 people attended the event.

The internships were awarded through SUPT--WMU's School University Partnership Team, which has been recognized nationally by the Association for Teacher Educators as a Distinguished Program in Teacher Education. Students awarded funding successfully completed teaching internships at school districts across southern Michigan, and special emphasis was placed on locating interns in "urban schools of promise."

In 2008-09 the State Farm funding to WMU was $40,000, with $20,000 going to the SUPT teaching interns in the College of Education. In addition to the $20,000 contributed for SUPT, State Farm gifts supported 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.

2009 State Farm scholarship recipients

• Melissa L. Adams, a senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in elementary education with minors in mathematics, science, early childhood education and integrative creative arts.
• Michelle L. Arndt, a graduate student from Battle Creek, Michigan, majoring in German, history and education.
• Shantae R. Bolden, a senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in special education.
• Cody T. Drogt, a senior from Lainsburg, Michigan, majoring in history.
• Karen L. Evans, a senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in special education.
• Lisa K. Gartland, a senior from Bark River, Michigan, majoring in elementary education.
• Joan A. Hillman, a senior from Three Oaks, Michigan, majoring in elementary education.
• Jennifer Hugenberg, a senior from Battle Creek, Michigan, majoring in English education.
• Marqetta J. Kirk, a senior from Crown Point, Indiana, majoring in elementary education and Spanish.
• Sarah M. Lohman, a senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in elementary education with minors in history and math.
• Rebecca A. Moore, a senior from Sturgis, Michigan, majoring in special education.
• Paula J. Morgan, a senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in special education.
• Holly M. Sell-Jaeger, a senior from Bloomingdale, Michigan, majoring in elementary education, social studies and integrated science.
• Katherine M. Smith, a senior from Benton Harbor, Michigan, majoring in elementary education.
• Mark Sopjes, a senior from Portage, Michigan, majoring in music education.
• Ryan T. Suchy, a senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in special education.
• Kristin L. Tuinier, a senior from Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in Spanish.
• Amanda M. Weiss, a senior from Royal Oak, Michigan, majoring in elementary education.
• Missty J. Welker, a senior from Delton, Michigan, majoring in elementary education.
• Jeffrey L. Wilkinson, a graduate student from Allegan, Michigan, majoring in physical education with minors in health education, elementary education and mathematics.

Media contact: Deanne Molinari, (269) 387-8400, deanne.molinari@wmich.edu

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