USC Aiken
Newest Educators Celebrate Classroom Experiences
Aiken, SC (06/20/2019) — Just before they earned their degrees, University of South Carolina Aiken education majors joined their families, friends and networks of mentors, professors and educators in the field to celebrate their accomplishments and receive their educator's pins during the annual School of Education Intern Banquet.
USC Aiken alumnus, Emilee Meek, who was Aiken County's Teacher of the Year 2018-2019, returned to her alma mater to address the interns. She emphasized the power of relationships, highlighting the relationships between teachers and students and those between teachers and other teachers, who ultimately provide a support system to fellow educators.
"Relationships do matter," Meek said. "We need one another to survive and thrive."
She also shared some of her personal philosophies, specifically: the most powerful therapy is human love, and vulnerability is the core of meaningful teaching experiences.
Some of these lessons the students learned firsthand during their internship experiences, which take place the semester they graduate.
"It's an intense period for these future educators who work closely with a teacher in a public school classroom and a USC Aiken faculty member," said Dr. Judy Beck, dean of the School of Education.
"Together, this team of professionals help prepare the Pacers for their own classrooms."
Interns who received their educator pins included:
- Levi Adkins
- Andrew Barwick
- Xiomarra Beverly
- Ayanna Brown
- Catherine Cagney
- Lindsey Calhoun
- Angelika Davis
- Amber Dickson
- Hannah Dykes
- Jasmine Edwards
- Kelsi Funk
- Lauren Grimm
- Mackenzie Hewitt
- Matthew Hinman
- Walter Jackson
- Sierra Jensen
- Shannon Karn
- James Kelly
- Taylor Kujawa
- Adara Mancine
- Morgan Mims
- Miranda Mullins
- Briante Perkins
- Ashley Pope
- Eleanor Powell
- Kelli Prather
- Alex Richardson
- Elizabeth Schneider
- Rebekah Shaw
- Ashley Shelton
- Faith Smith
- Bryan Smith
- Maggie Smith
- Jordan Steinmeyer
- Kelsey Tarrance
- Teresa Tharin
- Miles Thompson
- Christa Turner
- Summer Wadford
- Abbe Webb