Local School of Education Celebrates Achievements and Scholarships at Annual Awards Night

The School of Education recently hosted an awards night to honor its achievements and scholarship recipients. Jacqueline Wilber, the director of Student & Professional Services, highlighted the importance of acknowledging the school's accomplishments, especially considering recent challenges in education. Dean Amy Schweinle reviewed the school's past year successes, including its top regional ranking for online graduate programs in education.

The event also recognized the school's alumni. The 2023 Destination Delzell event, organized by the School of Education Alumni Association, awarded the 2023 Legend of Delzell Awards to four alumni. Six graduates were also included in the 2023 Class of USD’s 30 Under 30. The 2024 South Dakota Teacher of the Year, the 2024 North Dakota Teacher of the Year, and the 2023-2024 National Teacher of the Year are all school graduates.

The school is working to address the teacher shortage in South Dakota. It will receive $15,000 from Start Today SD and the U.S. Department of Labor and Regulation for a Teacher Fellows Registered Apprenticeship Program. The Teacher Pathway program, aimed at recruiting high school students to teach in rural areas, has expanded to include three new districts. The Sioux Falls School District received a donation to support nearly 150 Teacher Pathway students.

The four division chairs of the School of Education spoke at the awards night. They discussed achievements, grants, award winners, and scholarship recipients in their areas. During the 2023-2024 academic year, nearly $225,000 in scholarship funding was awarded to students.

The awards night ended with a video where students thanked donors and shared how scholarships have impacted their lives. The scholarships and their recipients were announced, including the Coyote Commitment Scholarship, the Allan D. & Lois E. Nelson Family Scholarship, and the Andrew D. & Carrie Aust Olson Memorial Scholarship, among others. The event demonstrated the School of Education's dedication to supporting its students and celebrating their achievements.

This article has been enhanced with AI assistance. Agree to access AI-generated content by clicking here, or opt for content with less AI influence here.