The University of the Ozarks’ Pat Walker Teacher Education Program held a pinning ceremony for several of its students on Dec. 5 in the Rogers Conference Center.
The pinning ceremony is a symbolic, time-honored tradition marking the occasion when students are formally welcomed into the teacher education program. The newest inductees received a pin that signifies their association with the teaching education program as well as their new affiliation with the teaching profession.
Among those who attended the ceremony were, (pictured seated, from left) Gloria Sweet, Diana Oudomvilay, Jacob Friemel, Madison Butler, Loren Freeman, Hayley Howard, (standing from left), Brooklyn Cordray, Kearstyn Rouner, Professor Leanita Pelts, T.J. “Tony” Saniseng, Professor Dr. Doris Metz, Jennifer Schmitt, Lakyn Sanders, Professor Pam Smith, McKenzie Becerra, Sarah Todd, Aislinn Zapata and Olivia Reed.
Among those students who were fully admitted into the education program and who were honored with pins included, Oudomvilay, Sweet, Todd, Saniseng, Butler, Freeman, Sanders and Friemel.
Oudomvilay, Sweet, Todd and Schmidt were also recognized during the ceremony for being Fall 2023 graduates.
The keynote speaker was Dave Meador, counselor at Lamar High School and a member of the University’s Teacher Education Advisory Committee (TEAC).
Other members of the TEAC are, Michele Brown (Lamar), Whitney Berg Brown (Scranton), Brad Culver (Ozark Middle School), Lance Spence (Lamar Middle School), Shelley Vaughn (Clarksville High School), Brandy Cogan (Clarksville Junior High School), Bryan Qualls (Clarksville Junior High School), Mark Mooney (Clarksville Primary School), John Elms (Johnson County Westside Elementary School) and Roy Hester, director of the Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative.
Topics: Education