Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Washington State University

Family creates scholarship to honor wife and mother

By Breck Smith – College of Education intern

Many teachers give their hearts to instill in us the things they see as vital to our education, critical to our success and important to our future. Mary Alice Hall-Vaughn, a beloved educator, may no longer be alive but she will continue to positively impact others through a scholarship that has been named in her honor.

Mary Alice’s life was cut short from an aggressive form of liver cancer in May 2014. Her husband, Chuck Vaughn, always admired the passion she had for helping improve and motivate students to excel in their education. After he lost Mary Alice, it became Chuck’s mission to help continue her work by serving others. Chuck enlisted the help of his two sons, C.J. and Joe, to help him create the Mary Alice Scholarship.

Their goal is to assist students at WSU who are pursuing a degree in teaching from the College of Education. The family was able to give out the very first scholarship this year to a recipient for the 2015 fall semester.

Mary Alice devoted over four decades of her life to teaching and giving back. She began her career as a behavioral intervention specialist at the Camarillo State Hospital where she taught life skills to autistic adult residents. She would later accept a position in the Peninsula School District where she taught special education and later kindergarten. She also continued her own education by earning her National Board certification in November of 2008 and in the years that followed she dedicated her time to training and helping guide other teachers through their process of applying and obtaining this same certification. She not only impacted the kids she taught in her classroom, but also offered a helping hand to other teachers seeking to advance their careers.

“I want to bring awareness to the fact that something good can come out of such a horrific event in ones life, and that not everything surrounding a death in the family has to be sad,” said their son, Joe Vaughn. “My mother would be proud to know that we started a scholarship in her name that helps future teachers pursue their goals. It makes me feel closer to her knowing that we can preserve her memory in such a positive way that can benefit others.”

To donate to the Mary Alice Scholarship you can contact Andrea Farmer at a.farmer@wsu.edu or 509.335.4956.

News: laboratories offer more opportunities to undergraduates

VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE BRUYA-WOOD CONFERENCE: https://www.flickr.com/photos/118927064@N04/sets/72157652160779586/.

The following story was written in preparation for the event:

By Breck Smith – College of Education intern

The College of Education’s kinesiology program will host an open house on Fri., April 24 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the Smith and Physical Education buildings, to show off its new (and old) research and service labs.

Associate kinesiology professor Anne Cox has already seen an improvement in student learning from the new lab exposures.

Exercise Physiology Lab
The Exercise Physiology & Performance Lab is one of three kinesiology labs that have started in the last two years.

“The addition of new labs in the Kinesiology program has already had a substantial impact on students’ learning experiences at WSU. Many of our undergraduate students are now taking advantage of opportunities to assist with research or service projects that stem from the work in these various labs. In some cases, these experiences have had an impact on their intended career path as their eyes are opened to new possibilities” Cox said.

The purpose of this open house is to show the progress and potential benefits undergraduates look to obtain with the new and improved facilities.

Within the open house are lab tours which allow participants to see specific labs from 1-2 p.m. Labs that can be viewed include:

The Exercise Phys Lab, as well as the Biomechanics Lab, are both new this year as a direct result of the increased interest in the program.

The Exercise Phys Lab mission is to “improve human athletic performance, health, and quality of life through the accurate assessment of fitness levels/exercise capacities and physical activity behavior.”

The Biomechanics Lab’s main goal is to research dynamic balance to find answers on how to improve lives by reducing the amount of falls from humans, which happen every day. Both labs are expected to provide new information and research opportunities for students interested in making a difference in their communities.

Additionally participants do not want to miss The Bruya Wood Undergraduate Research Conference, which takes place from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in Physical Education Building 144. This conference provides students an opportunity to display academic research on a professional front. While gaining resume experience as they present their findings to established academics in the field.

Coug moms and students run in Mom’s Weekend 5K to fight breast cancer

By: Trevor Havard – College of Education Intern5k1

The WSU Sport Management Club’s annual Moms on the Glo 5K couldn’t be stopped by the torrential rain that fell on Saturday during Mom’s Weekend.

Despite the poor weather, approximately 70 cougar moms, students, and others gathered in their bright colors to take part in the Mom’s Weekend 5K event. This annual event raises awareness for breast cancer and the proceeds are donated to the Every Woman Can foundation, who helps women get mammograms who cannot afford them.

According to the American Cancer Society, 68 percent of uninsured women do not get mammograms, which are vital to catching breast cancer early and helping make breast cancer treatable. The Moms on the Glo 5K works to reduce this number and raised over $800 this year for Every Woman Can.

Sport Management Club Event Coordinator Chelsea Gorman was grateful to everyone who came out.5k2

“Even though it was pouring down raining everyone who came out had a great time,” she said. “It was great to see all the runners dressed up and so enthusiastic about our 5K and about helping Every Woman Can.”

Many participants who ran in the race were rewarded for their efforts. Prizes were given out to the fastest and most-spirited participants which included a laser-signed Richard Sherman Seahawks football, Seattle Sounders prize packs, WSU football tickets, and more.5k3edited

The annual 5K event will take place again on Mom’s Weekend next year and will look to help Every Woman Can even more.

First Dominican-born PhD student in WSU history set to graduate

By: Trevor Havard – College of Education Intern

Abraham Barouch-Gilbert, a PhD student in the Educational Psychology program, is believed to become the first Dominican-born PhD graduate in WSU history.Gilbert

“Being the first known Dominican PhD graduate is a great accomplishment and the beginning of a new journey,” he said.

Barouch-Gilbert is not only excited about his current accomplishment, but also what it will allow him to do for the Dominican moving forward.

“It means I have the privilege of contributing directly to Dominican higher education and society at large,” he said. More specifically, Barouch-Gilbert will continue to research student experiences when on academic probation in the Dominican, along with teaching and mentoring processes in higher education.

At WSU, along with being a PhD student Barouch-Gilbert worked as a research assistant for University Recreation performing research and assessments. He received two research grants from his university back home in the Dominican Republic, the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo, with which he produced multiple poster presentations for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and WSU’s academic showcase, as well as a manuscript that is slated for publication this November, along with two research papers currently under review.

“Upon graduation I will contribute in full to higher education in the Dominican Republic.”

Cougs with strong showing in Malaysia

The 13th annual EARCOS Teachers’ Conference was held in Malaysia on March 26-28. Officially, the theme was “Language for Life.”

Unofficially, it was “Cougs Take Over Malaysia.”

Led by our International School Leadership Program (ISLP) leads Forrest Parkay and Walt Gmelch, as well as other educational leadership folks like Glenys Hill and Teena McDonald, the college hosted a successful Cougar Gold and Washington Wines Reception.

Here are a few photos of the reception:

For more info on the ISLP, visit: http://education.wsu.edu/certification/international/.

Counseling psychology graduate student recognized for her research

By C. Brandon Chapman

WSU’s Association for Faculty Women has named counseling psychology graduate student Aubrie Schlegel with one of its two annual Founders Award.

Schlegel – who was nominated for the award by associate professor Lali McCubbin – will receive the award on Thu., April 9.4P7A0727_adj_smaller

“It was really awesome even just being nominated for the award by my advisor,” Schlegel said.

Schlegel’s work

Along with McCubbin, associate professor Pam Bettis, and clinical assistant professor Chad Gotch, Schlegel began working on a project for her thesis that is meant to promote knowledge and dispel myths about human trafficking.

“We wanted to help spread awareness and hopefully help show people just how much we as the public really can do to help,” she said.

That work included producing a 16-minute video that provided information on trafficking, dispelled myths and provided students with resources on how they could become involved in the fight against trafficking.

In award notification, professor Laura Griner Hill who chairs the AFW Graduate Student Awards Committee, wrote: “All of us on the review committee were heartened and inspired by the amazing work done by our very best graduate students, and proud that you will represent us in your developing career. I honor the journey that you have traveled to make a positive difference in the university, in your field, and in the world at large.”

Congrats to Aubrie.

Gay Selby: A Historic Career set to end soon

Gay Selby is the program coordinator at WSU Vancouver for the College of Education’s Educational Leadership program. She was recently featured in WSUV’s Spring 2015 CriSONY DSCmson and Gray Magazine.

The article is done Q&A style, and poses questions about Gay’s background at WSU, her teaching career, “firsts” she’s seen in her career, what brought her to Southwest Washington, as well as other highlights in her life.

Did you know in 1992 Gay received the state’s Superintendent of the Year award? Or that in 1995 she received a WSU Alumni Achievement Award. Those details, plus many more, are highlighted in the article.

Read the article here: http://education.wsu.edu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Gay-Selby-article.pdf.

Thanks, Gay, for all your work on behalf of the university, the college, and the state.

 

Counseling Psychology doctoral student wins “Berkeley Spot Award”

Adisa Anderson only knows one speed: 100 percent.

Look high and low and you’ll find the counseling psychology doctoral student doing good somewhere.

He’s worked with WSU’s Office of Student Standards & Accountability, with the university’s Counseling & Testing Services, as well as with WSU’s Alcohol & Drug Counseling, Assessment & Prevention Services.Adisa Anderson

And so on and so forth.

Through it all, Adisa has taken an active role in making sure his outreach efforts are heavily-weighted toward diverse student communities, especially those that are African and African-American.

And now he’s winning awards. Adisa is currently in an internship with UC Berkeley, a university well-known for its various protests throughout the years. His role is to help campus climate leaders during these protests.

In response to the issues at play, Adisa planned a program for UC Berkeley’s Black Staff & Faculty Organization, to help with racial climate issues on campus, stress management, etc. About 50 black staff and faculty attended the program put on in December, including the university’s vice chancellor and associate vice chancellor. It was well received and there has since been talk about making this a reoccurring program.

Per the UC Berkeley website: “Spot Awards are designed to recognize special contributions, as they occur, for a specific project or task. Spot Awards are generally for a special contribution accomplished over a relatively short time period. A Spot Award lets employees know that someone has noticed their noteworthy contribution. At the same time, it recognizes and reinforces the behaviors and values that are important at UC Berkeley.”

Congrats to Adisa and keep up the good work.

College of Education Professor set to retire after publishing 10th edition of teaching textbook

By Trevor Havard – College of Education Intern

Perhaps the first thing that strikes you is the simplicity of the title: Becoming a Teacher. The straight-forward approach College of Education professor Forest Parkay uses in his textbook is a big reason why the textbook is now getting its tenth edition and is widely used in colleges and universities16871456110_334f68fc0d_z across the United States and world, including in languages like Mandarin and Indonesian.

The book’s milestone could be seen as Parkay’s swan song, with the educational leadership professor retiring at the end of the spring semester.

“I believe that teaching is the world’s most important profession, so it has been immensely satisfying to have spent a career helping to prepare teachers and school leaders,” said Parkay, who taught at the University of Florida for eight years and at Texas State University for five years before coming to WSU. “Since Becoming a Teacher is currently used by nearly 100 colleges and universities in the U.S., I know that I have reached students far beyond the three universities with which I have been affiliated.”

Becoming a Teacher dives head-first into the challenges future teachers face in today’s rapidly-changing, high-stakes educational environment. The tenth edition helps students make difficult decisions on their teaching future by fostering an awareness of the harsh realities of teaching in America in today’s society.

“The book provides students with the tools to answer the questions: Do I want to teach, and what does it take to succeed as a teacher today,” Parkay said.  17033019606_660483b5c3_z

The new edition also puts an added focus on teacher quality and provides students with a greater understanding of key areas such as teacher leadership, political activism, teacher diversity and cultural competence, and social justice and democracy. The book is also available as an eText for the first time and features dozens of interactive videos to help students.

(For more photos see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/118927064@N04/sets/72157651382477289/)

Playing host; creating memories

By C. Brandon Chapman

With the help of two WSU principal certification students, school districts in Battle Ground and Vancouver hosted principals from St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) and showed them how technology was being integrated into instruction in their respective districts.

The principals are recipients of a U.S. Department of Education grant. The grant is managed by the Northwest Council for Computer Education (NCCE). The NCCE’s annual conference was taking place in Portland, and, since they were so close to Washington state, a visit made sense.

“As part of the grant, the St. Thomas principals were here to observe, get ideas, and collaborate with local educators, as well as reap the benefits of the NCCE Conference,” said Glenn Malone, coordinator for the principal and program administrator certifications. “We wanted them to tour local schools to see how we were doing it here.”

The tour included a trip to the WSU Vancouver campus.

In order to make sure the visit went off without a hitch, Malone enlisted the help of two of the College of Education’s principal certification and Master of Education candidates helped organize the visits: April Vonderharr from Battle Ground, and Solina Journey from Vancouver.

“Kudos to April & Solina for setting up this fantastic day of sharing and learning,” Malone said. “It was very succesful for all.”

Here are two Battle Ground School District write-ups:

http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=470079fac988677965e6b997d&id=cfed1e860c&e=80384cc5b2

http://www.battlegroundps.org/blog/schooladministratorstakebgpstechstrategybacktocaribbean