* Three Kansas State University students and a student from the University of Delaware teamed up to win first place in the first student case study competition at the ninth annual International Leadership Association conference, Nov. 7-10, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Chance Lee, senior in sociology and political science with a minor in leadership studies; Lauren Luhrs, senior in human ecology and mass communications-public relations with minors in leadership studies and business; and Anthony Carter, senior in sociology with a minor in nonprofit leadership, won for the leadership plan they created for Goldman Sachs. The award included a $1,000 cash prize. November 2007
* Aimee Klimek, a senior in secondary education at K-State, is this year's Outstanding Student Council for Exceptional Children Member of the Year for the state of Kansas. Klimek, Olathe, was honored at the annual conference of the Kansas Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children in Hutchinson. The award recognizes a current student member of the council who has contributed a great deal of time, energy and support to the council and to exceptional children. Klimek is a co-founder of K-State's Student Council for Exceptional Children chapter. She also served as its first president during the past year. October 2007
* Outstanding academic performance, demonstrated leadership and a commitment to careers in the nonprofit sector have earned five K-State students awards from American Humanics. The students are Kylie Zibell, senior in family life and community services, Holton, $1,000 American Humanics Academic Award; Danielle English, senior in public relations, Courtney Graham, senior in accounting, and Jessica Silfverberg, senior in public relations, all of Overland Park, and all $4,500 NextGen Leader awards; and Molly Hamm, junior in English and secondary education, Shawnee, $1,000 American Humanics Academic Award. American Humanics is a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofits dedicated to preparing the next generation of nonprofit sector leaders. American Humanics is affiliated with 67 colleges and universities, including K-State, and 58 national nonprofit organizations and their local affiliates. The awards to Zibell and Hamm are in recognition of their academic performance, leadership, involvement in K-State's American Humanics program and commitment to a career in the nonprofit sector. The NextGen Leader awards to English, Graham and Silfverberg are stipends to cover living and education expenses while completing internships with nonprofit organizations. August 2007
* Nearly 20 years after a Harry S. Truman Scholarship changed her life, K-State's Mary Hale Tolar is being recognized by the Truman Foundation for helping other Truman scholars and for living up to the scholarship's ideals. Tolar, associate director of leadership studies and programs for K-State civic leadership and former director of Kansas Campus Compact, is recipient of the Truman Foundation's 2007 Staats Award. The honor is presented annually to a Truman scholar who has made significant contributions to the public sector and who has provided extraordinary service to the foundation. Tolar, who was named a Truman scholar in 1988 as a sophomore in history and speech at K-State, has been active with the Truman Foundation. She started as a fellowships adviser 15 years ago. In 1999 she joined the foundation as deputy executive secretary and chief of staff, serving until returning to K-State in 2003. Currently, Tolar serves on national Truman scholarship selection panels and participates annually in Truman Scholars Leadership Week, where she talks with recently selected Truman scholars about opportunities for study and service following their college graduation. July 2007
* The American Educational Research Association recently honored Jeong-Hee Kim, an assistant professor of secondary education, with an award for an outstanding narrative research article. Kim's article, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls: Conflicting Voices Inside an Alternative High School," was selected as the best narrative research article of 2007 out of three national finalists. The award is given by the Narrative Research Special Interest Group, which is a division of the American Educational Research Association. Kim's award-winning article appeared in the International Journal of Education and Arts in August 2006. The article is a study of an alternative high school in Arizona, and provides conflicting views among administrators, teachers and students on their public alternative school experiences. Narrative research focuses on the stories of everyday people and their experiences. April 2007
* The College of Education and its dean, Michael Holen, have been recognized by the National Academic Advising Association for their longtime support of the association and of academic advising. Holen and the college were honored at the association's recent 29th annual conference in Las Vegas . Since the establishment of its executive office at the college in 1990, the association's membership has grown from 2,400 to more than 8,800. Holen and K-State also worked with the association on the development and offering of a graduate certificate program in academic advising. December 2005
* Pat Staver, assistant professor of secondary education, is the recipient of the Modern Language Educator award for the state of Kansas. The award is presented by the Kansas World Language Association. October 2005
* Leadership isn't just about influencing others and moving toward goals. It also should involve thinking about the greater good and the cost and benefit of decisions. That's the message from the latest book by Robert Shoop, professor of education and senior scholar in the leadership studies program at K-State's College of Education. Shoop has authored "Virtuous Leadership: Knowledgeable, Ethical, Caring, Inclusive Leading" with Ata Karim, a former K-State professor. In the book, the authors distinguish between effective and virtuous leadership. August 2005
* K-State's master's program in adult education at Fort Leavenworth has met all expected standards and earned three commendations, according to a voluntary review conducted on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense. The review, called a Military Installation Voluntary Education Review, was conducted in fall 2004 by the American Council on Education for the Defense Department. The review found that the K-State program met all of the standards, or principles of good practice, for institutions that offer degrees at military institutions. The review also commended K-State for exceeding standards for quality of faculty, advising and library resources. February 2005
* Two K-State students were presented with the Teacher of Promise award at the Kansas Teacher of the Year State Awards Banquet, Nov. 22 at the Marriott Hotel in Wichita. Kate Erickson, Chapman, senior in secondary education, and Michelle Brucker, Marysville, senior in elementary education, both received the award for their work as student teachers. The Kansas Department of Education recognized two students from each teacher preparation program in the state of Kansas along with naming the 2003 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Brucker is a student teacher for a second grade class at Ogden Elementary School. Lynn Holley is her cooperating teacher. Erickson is a student teacher for an English class at Junction City High School. July Beemer is her cooperating teacher. Teachers of Promise award recipients are students who have not finished their teacher education program but are working toward completion. They are chosen by the faculty in each of the 23 teacher education programs in Kansas. Two Teacher of Promise recipients are chosen each semester. December 2003
* Steven Harbstreit, associate professor and coordinator of agricultural education at K-State, has been selected to serve a three-year term on the National FFA Organization board of directors. Harbstreit was nominated by the American Association for Agricultural Education and officially began his term at the board of directors meeting in July. As a member of the board of directors, Harbstreit will be part of the policy-making body for the National FFA Organization. October 2003
* K-State's College of Education has been granted continuing accreditation for five more years. Accredited schools must meet rigorous standards set by the profession and members of the public. A committee consisting of professional educators from across the nation and Kansas conducted a joint review in March 2002. They reviewed an institutional self-study report and exhibits related to each of the accreditation standards, made observations and conducted interviews with K-State faculty, administrators, students, alumni and personnel from public schools associated with the college. The college's collaborative efforts with local schools to establish professional development schools, which have resulted in the improvement of teacher preparation, in restructuring of local schools and in enhanced learning opportunities for all children involved are distinguishing characteristics of K-State's College of Education. The standards set by the national council and the Kansas State Department of Education encompass all aspects of the education process. Teacher candidates must have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter they plan to teach as well as the skills necessary to convey the subject matter. The college must carefully assess this knowledge and skill. The institution also must have partnerships with K-12 schools. Candidates must be prepared to understand and work with diverse student populations. College and university faculty must model effective teaching practices. The college must have the resources, including information technology resources, necessary to prepare candidates to meet new standards. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education's findings were released in November 2002, while the Kansas State Board of Education released its findings in January 2003. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accredits 540 institutions each year. Its standards are revised every five years to ensure the standards reflect a consensus about what is important in teacher preparation. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes the council as the only professional accrediting body for schools, departments, and colleges of education. March 2003