What our students say
Thinking about applying to the College of Education? You'll be interested in these observations from students in a few of our undergraduate programs.
Kanpapha
Bovornassourai
Hometown: Richland, Washington
Major: Kinesiology
Awards/honors: President's Honor Roll
I choose my field of study because I want to get a better understanding of the human movement and overall health and fitness. Some of the classes that prepared me for graduate school are human anatomy, exercise physiology, and injury care and prevention. My career goal is to earn a doctorate in physical therapy. I would like to work in a hospital in the rehabilitation department, which would allow me to establish more personal relationships with patients. I would like to be able to help patients return to their normal routines as well as affect them in positive ways. Eventually, I want to help underprivileged people in the United States and Thailand by provide free or low-cost treatment.
The greatest strengths of WSU’s kinesiology program are the science classes and the faculty. The program allows the student to learn the human anatomy in a cadaver lab, which students at other schools might not experience until graduate school.
I would advise incoming students is to get to know the professors and be active learners. It’s also important to keep a career goal in mind so that you won’t be wasting time taking unnecessary classes. That would make for a longer, more difficult path because when you want to continue your education to graduate school you have to take extra classes to fulfill the requirements.
Lucas Christensen
Hometown: Matlock, Washington
Major: Kineseology
Membership: PEK
Awards/honors: President's Honor Roll
Kinesiology encompasses my interest in science
and my passion having a positive impact on
peoples’ lives. The greatest strength of this
program is the diversity of its classes. From anatomy
and athletic training to philosophy, all the classes
help you acquire useful skills. The other great thing
about this program is it prepares you and gives you the
opportunity to go in many directions after leaving
WSU. I plan to become a therapist in an
outpatient clinic and, eventually, open my own physical
therapy work rehabilitation clinic.
I would advise incoming students to get to know their
teachers and others in the program, start building a
network as soon as possible. Also, have a good work
ethic. If you stay on track this program is a lot fun!
Emily
Clark
Hometown: Kent, Washington
Major: Athletic Training
Membership: Athletic Training Club
Awards/honors: University Achievement Scholarship
I love helping people and watching them become better athletes. When they complete a hard rehabilitation exercise or when they get their personal record at pole vault, I feel a sense of pride knowing that I helped them succeed as well as watched them do so. My goal is to become a Certified Athletic Trainer and work for a hockey team. I plat to attend graduate school to become a physical therapist. My dream job would involve working with children in the field of sports medicine.
The greatest strength of WSU’s athletic training program is the students' chance to get “hands on” experience, working clinical hours in the athletic training room as well as on the field and court.
Cody
Haugen
Jome town: Kalispell, Montana
Major: Athletic Training
Membership: Athletic Training Club
Awards/honors: President's Honor Roll
I chose to study athletic training for three main
reasons. First, I have always been fascinated with how
the human body works, moves and adapts to stresses.
Next, there are few things that are more rewarding to
me than helping someone recover from an injury. Lastly,
I grew up playing sports and have been passionate about
them my entire life. I plan to become both a Certified
Athletic Trainer and a Certified Strength and
Conditioning Specialist. Ultimately, I would like to
obtain a doctorate in physical therapy.
The strength of WSU’s Athletic Training Education
Program is the hands-on experience that each student
gains through the internship. Working with an NCAA
Division I athletics program and learning directly from
a large and knowledgeable athletic training staff
provides students with opportunities that simply cannot
be gained in a classroom.
Tony Moser
Hometown: Spokane, Washington
Major: Elementary and Special
Education
Memberships: Council for Exceptional
Children, Kappa Delta
Pi
Awards: Hartman Award for Athletic character and
leadership
I chose to study elementary and special education because all students—despite their abilities or disabilities—deserve all opportunities to grow and strive beyond their labeled potential.
After teaching for a few years in a special or general educational setting, I plan to get master’s degrees in special education and administration. After graduate school, I hope to teach as long as possible. As a future teacher and possible administrator, I hope to have a profound impact on students’ lives. I would like my students to remember me not as their favorite teacher, but as one who gave them as many tools as possible to use in their future academic, professional, and personal endeavors.
The College of Education at WSU has a mighty reputation. The greatest strength of our program is its focus on building strong relationships, which are the basis for functional teaching in the classroom.
Brittany Sarkesian
Hometown: Juneau, Alaska
Major: Teaching
Membership: Regents Hall Government
Awards or Honors:
• Inga Kromann Medal Award for
the children’s book Firefly Messages
• College of Education
Scholarship Award
• President’s Honor
Roll
• 2nd Place in the ORC
Photography Contest for Outstanding Landscape
Photo
• Cougar Freshmen Award
(2005-09)
My greatest strength as an educational professional is
my high level of expectations for all students. Many of
the professors in the education program have challenged
me to achieve to my highest ability, and I want to
extend this high level of expectations to my future
students.
The greatest strength of this program is the extensive
exposures that we pre-service teachers get.
Spending three hours a week in a classroom was the
highlight of every week during blocks I and II.
Reading about teaching is completely different than
seeing teaching in action. This program
isn’t about “fluff” classes and easy
A’s. There is a tremendous amount of work,
but if you are passionate about what you intend to do
with your education, then the effort will pay
off. Never let your passion drain because it is
the end goal, and you’ll get there faster than
you can imagine!
Steve Singer
Hometown: Tumwater, Washington
Major: Health & Fitness
Memberships: Washington Alliance for Health, Physical
Education, Recreation, and Dance (WAPHERD); American
Council on Exercise Personal Trainer
Awards/honors: President's Honor Roll
I choose this field of study based on the many teachers
and coaches who had a substantial influence on my life
throughout high school. My love of sports and exercise
played a role in my decision as well.
I plan to teach both PE and health at the high school
level, while also being an assistant coach for football
and baseball. Eventually I would also like to become a
head coach for football. After getting at least a few
years of teaching experience I hope to go back to
graduate school and get my masters degree in either
education or exercise science. I also plan to
remain a certified personal trainer. Down the road, I
have thought about completing a CSCS certification, and
maybe even one day owning my own health club.
The health and fitness education program here at WSU
has many strong points, but two really stick out. No. 1
is the required experience you get out in the field.
Through practicums, youth coaching, community service,
and other hands-on activities, we are provided with the
understanding of how to connect with not only students,
but the community that surrounds them as well. This
additional work also provides some incentive for school
districts to look a little closer at our resumes when
we begin applying to teach. The second reason that this
program is so successful is that professors go the
extra mile to connect with us as students. Two prime
examples are Dr. Phillip Morgan and Dr. Tariq Akmal.
They truly make everyday interactive in their
classrooms, while also teaching valuable lessons about
being an educator to all walks of life.
