Date: April 14, 2011
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

PNC Students Honored as Outstanding Future Educators

Leah Goetz, Lauren Conley and Gabrielle Shreves

Westville – Three Purdue University North Central students were recently honored with the Outstanding Future Educator Awards presented by the Indiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (IACTE). The students, all Elementary Education majors, were nominated for their awards by the PNC Education Department faculty members in recognition of the dedication that all three have shown to their profession during their student teaching experience.

The award was presented during the IACTE annual Recognition Day for Outstanding Future Educators. This event draws outstanding future educators from throughout the state to celebrate the teaching profession, reward the exemplary efforts of student teachers and inspire them to make a difference.

Honored were:

Leah Goetz, of Westville, president of the PNC chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for educators. Prior to serving as president, she received the Kappa Delta Pi's Most Outstanding Member award. She was a volunteer for Junior Achievement of LaPorte County.

Lauren Conley, of Wanatah, who formerly served as secretary for Kappa Delta Pi. She also volunteered with Junior Achievement of LaPorte County

Gabrielle Shreves, of LaPorte, was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Sigma Lambda national honor society. She is a wife, mother and full-time student. She volunteers as a Little League coach and Girl Scout leader.

Accompanying the students were Dr. Cynthia Fontaine, chair of the PNC Education Department and Erin White, student teaching university supervisor.