MORE PROFILES OF UI MID-YEAR GRADS
Thursday, December 13 2001
December 13, 2001^MOSCOW–More tips about inspiring graduates have found their way into the University of Idaho Communications Office as the mid-year Commencement nears Saturday, Dec. 15, 1 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome. Here's a sampling of the 641 students who are eligible to walk:^^POST FALLS/COEUR D'ALENE: Katie Webber is one of the College of Education's outstanding school psychology graduates, who earned most of her master's degree through UI's Coeur d'Alene campus, educational outreach, interlibrary loans and e-mail communications. Throughout it all, she managed to have two children and hold down a full-time job as a school psychologist on a waiver for Post Falls Public Schools. "The degree now gives me a career path and direction as a school psychologist." She serves four schools in the school district. It took her four years to earn 110 grad programs credits, at the same time her husband, Beau, is working on his doctorate in geography. "It worked for us because we could hand off the babies back and forth as he took day classes and I took night classes up here." Her son, daughter, husband, mother and sister will be clapping for the end to her marathon education on Saturday. Contact: kwebber@sd273.k12.id.us, (208) 777-8057, or (208) 640-8057.^^POST FALLS: Ryan White not only picks up his bachelor's in political science Dec. 15 -- but a foot in the door of politics. "UI has provided me many opportunities as an intern in Washington, D. C. for Sen. Mike Crapo in the summer of 2000, an intern for Gov. Dirk Kempthorne's office in the summer of 2001, and as chief of staff and lobbyist for the Associated Students of UI." Through these connections, White has landed what he considers "a dream job to help manage State Rep. Celia Gould's campaign to run for lieutenant governor. I literally would not have had any of these experiences had it not been for the first-rate education I received at UI." Contact: (208) 892-2794, whit7309@aol.com^^POTLATCH/MOSCOW: Heather Sullivan impresses her friends by having juggled and accomplished so much during her college career. She is a business major, was a sorority member, married, became a full-time employee in an appraisal business for which now she has her state license, plus she and her husband bought their first house a year ago. She says she has learned how to leave her options open and work hard to improve things. "College has exposed me to new concepts and experiences; how I apply it all will determine both my professional and personal life." Contact: (208) 892-2541, bake1843@uidaho.edu ^^MOSCOW: Pat Ruggio picks up her degree in recreation, with a minor in aging on Saturday. The 63-year-old, who considers herself a mature adult, said she felt right at home and accepted by the younger students throughout her four years at UI. As a part-time activity assistant at Good Samaritan Care Center, she now is armed with skills in textiles, silk-screening, batiking, and all kinds of crafts and recreation skills "to take me well into two more decades," she says. She'll miss the camaraderie of school life, but admits it's time to take a long break. In just one more semester, her son, James, will earn his bachelor's degree in letters and science. It was his college experience that initially brought her here in 1996. Contact: rugg8052@uidaho.edu, (208) 883-0784^^COEUR D'ALENE, LEWISTON, SPOKANE, MOSCOW: Eight Inland Northwest teachers, will walk together as a group, carrying the walking sticks made for them by the incoming group of scholars they mentored this summer. These first Thomas C. Wright Fellows received $7,500 each from his endowment and now will pick up master's degrees or education specialist degrees. They are the first cohort of a foundation-funded four-semester program, having completed their coursework over two summers and conducted action-based research at their schools during the year. They represent a trend in higher education to provide working professionals accessible ways to achieve more education or certification. The Fellows also establish grass-root mentoring to pass on "best education practices" and to address local needs. They are Lynne Peters, Woodland Middle School, Nancy Larsen, Ramsey Elementary, Michelle Faucher-Sharples, Bryan Elementary, Charlene Soucy, Fernan Elementary -- all from Coeur d'Alene School District; Josephine Marshall and Janet Peacock, Sacajawea Junior High, Lewiston School District; Crag (correct spelling) Hill, Moscow School District; and Victoria Boyd, Greenacres Junior High, Spokane. Contact: Mary Ann Reese, (208) 885-2841, mreese@uidaho.edu or Louise Freeman-Toole, (208) 885-6761, College of Education^^GARFIELD/PALOUSE/MOSCOW: Christine Clevenger, jazz and operatic soprano, will kick off the Commencement ceremony by singing the national anthem, and end by claiming her own degree in music education. By Jan. 3, she will take a position as long-term substitute for elementary schools in Garfield and Palouse. She has played musical roles as Rapunzel in a recent school musical, as Susannah in The Marriage of Figaro, and was part of the University Jazz Choir, Jazz Choir II and Hamptones. "I came here six years ago because of my interest in jazz, and the school introduced me to the opera world. I now consider myself fortunate to be a versatile musician." She will have a cast of family in the audience clapping harder than usual Dec. 15 -- including one-year-old daughter, Tiana, husband of three years, Rett, parents, in-laws, brother, and nephew, among others. Contact: rettclevenger@aol.com, (208) 883-8021^^IDAHO FALLS: Sara Eggers took a bumpy longer road to graduation. The 25-year-old, who earns a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication, took some time outs over her seven-year trek to recover from a broken neck, give birth to three daughters and other family wage-earning efforts. "I could have raced through, but instead I chose to stay at home with my children and forego day care. I graduate knowing that I didn't sacrifice my family for the degree, which makes it more meaningful to me. . . My family gave me lots of loving support -- they wouldn't let me quit! . . Friends offered free babysitting so I could take a break, church members brought meals, and someone anonymously bought us a turkey. . . .When I walk, my husband and children will be there. My mom, who is working toward her first degree at ISU is driving up with my grandparents. She made special arrangements to take one of her finals on a different day so she can be here. I am the first woman in my family to get a degree, and my mom plans to cry." Eggers now plans a freelance writing business, a moonlighting job, home-schooling her kids and Sunday School teaching. She says her college experience helped her "differentiate between what is important and what is urgent. I learned to keep a lot of balls in the air at once, and I learned which ones to drop. I also learned patience." Contact: (208) 885-1411, hans9461@uidaho.edu^^HERMISTON, ORE.: D.J. Newman will receive his bachelor's degree in animal science after having worked his way through school at a local tire store. As the snow blankets the Palouse, he will be working overtime to install snow tires while studying for finals. "You definitely feel you've earned it," says the graduate who has taken five years to earn two degrees, including an associate degree from Blue Mountain Community College at Pendleton, Ore. Despite working 30 hours a week, Newman's also active in student affairs as a UI College of Agricultural and Life Sciences ambassador. Next year, the 24-year-old continues his "tireless" pursuit of graduate school. Contact: Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, (208) 885-3558 days, (509) 335-4345 evenings, PJNewman@hotmail.com^^MARYSVILLE, WASH.: Caryn Mead, 31, overcame culture shock as a non-traditional returning student in 1997. She and her husband Daryl, left paying jobs on the west side of the mountains to gain educations and raise their daughter Miranda in a family town. Caryn's "starting over" now culminates with a degree in psychology and a minor in public relations, and she's polishing her resume for a career in music and entertainment public relations. "I'm just decimal points away from graduating with honors, but my education has paid off tenfold in other ways as well," says Caryn, the first in her family to earn a four-year degree. "When I came, I was so hungry to learn. I even studied Japanese. I couldn't get enough. The experience has broadened my perspective -- not only about academics, but about working with people younger than me, getting to know a different community, working on group projects and activities and working with a local band. The student support center helped me when I struggled. In so many ways, UI has affected my life positively. My whole family is coming Dec. 15. I feel ready for whatever's ahead." Contact: carynrenee@hotmail.com, (208) 882-7178^^Contact: UI Office of University Communications, (208) 885-6291, uinews@uidaho.edu. Editors: Photos of the Thomas C. Wright Scholars with "walking sticks" are at www.its.uidaho/today/photo_list.asp^^^###^NH-12/13/01-TIPS^
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