STUDENT UPDATES

Seven vocal music majors competed in the Missouri State NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) event in Kirksville. Five of the seven reached the semi-finals in their respective categories - sophomores Lauren Perren and Rachel DeVilbiss, junior Brittany Williams, and seniors Matt Gladden, and Josh Lawlor. Of these five, three advanced and placed in the finals. Josh and Matt were first and second in the senior men division, and Lauren placed third among sophomore women.

Over 150 singers from University and Liberal Arts institutions competed from across the state. Josh and Matt are students of adjunct instructor Kathy Price and the women are students of Professor Ron Witzke.

Amy Larson , Senior Elementary Education major, presented a poster session at the Association for Childhood Education International Conference in San Antonio Texas on April 15, 2006 . Amy's presentation entitled, Promoting Student Creativity: A Cross-Cultural Study Comparing British and American Teaching Practices, examined the ways in which British teaching practices that promote creativity should be adopted by U.S. elementary teachers. Specifically she advocated use of the student-directed project method, non-competitive assessments, and giving student's responsibility for their own performance.

Anthony Mickelson, Senior English and Secondary Education major, was awarded the Kappa Delta Pi President's Scholarship. Anthony spent his summer teaching English to LEP students for The Language Company's Liberty English Institute. Concerned that the students at the Institute had few opportunities for social activities Anthony organized soccer and basketball workshops for the students.

Lydia Crigger, Junior Art and Secondary Education major, was a staff member for Youthworks, an organization that coordinates mission trips for 12-19 year-olds at over 75 sites in the U.S. and Mexico. Lydia coordinated multiple high school youth groups who ran "Club de Ninos" for community children and built houses for those in the community.

Elizabeth Waterland, a first-year Math and Elementary Education major, made a mission trip to Brazil.

Kelly Easley '06 has been selected for the early decision admission program at KU Medical Center for the fall of 2007. Kelly was a 2005-2006 faculty award candidate at William Jewell and worked in Dr. Dan Heruth's colon cancer lab. She received top honors for her student research presentation at the district level of the science honorary Beta Beta Beta, earning a trip to the organization's national conference in Florida last spring. KU's early decision admission program is highly competitive, requiring high GPA and MCAT scores. "Her admission is a good example of how a well-designed liberal arts education can combine all the things we have to offer - our strong science and humanities programs - to prepare students for success in a professional field," says Dr. Ian Munro, professor of English.

Kristen Walker, a first-year music theory and composition major, is a finalist in the 27th Annual Ithaca College School of Music choral composition contest. Kristen will fly to Ithaca, N.Y., in November to have her choral piece performed by one of the top high school choirs in the region. She is one of six finalists whose pieces will be performed. An overall winner will be selected following that performance.

"It is a very prestigious competition and will have attracted submissions from many composers with fine reputations," said Dr. Ian Coleman, chairman of the music department at William Jewell. "The finalists include established composers who hold faculty positions at other institutions, and so for a first-year student to be selected speaks highly of the quality of her work."