Katie Lynn Ward Earns College of Education and Human Services Excellence Award at 澳博体育app下载

Katie Lynn Ward of Valdosta, 乔治亚州, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the 詹姆斯L. 和多萝西·H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education during 澳博体育app下载’s 236th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. 12月12日星期六. 9.

VALDOSTA — Katie Lynn Ward of Valdosta, 乔治亚州, is the recipient of the Fall 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the 詹姆斯L. 和多萝西·H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University.

The President’s Award for Academic Excellence is presented to a high-performing graduating student in each of 澳博体育app下载’s six colleges — Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business 政府, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of the Arts, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, 詹姆斯·L. 和多萝西·H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services.

Ward will be recognized during 澳博体育app下载’s 236^th Commencement at 4:30 p.m. 12月12日星期六. 9, on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education.

“I started my 澳博体育app下载 experience knowing I wanted to be an elementary educator, and I stayed the course,她分享道。. “From the beginning, I got involved in the Wesley Foundation and a Christian community that has helped to ground me with the right priorities throughout my 澳博体育app下载 experience. I give God the glory for this culminating honor.

“Being that I didn’t get to have a full high school graduation due to COVID-19, I am full of gratitude to receive this award and be able to represent my college in this way.”

As a student at 澳博体育app下载, Ward was an active member of the Wesley Foundation, where she served on the Connect and Media Team, and The Porch 社区 Church, where she served as a small group leader for high school girls and participated in college ministry and discipleship groups. She worked as a tutor at the on-campus Ruby R. Sullivan Literacy Center and as a student teacher at W.G. Nunn Elementary School. 

Ward volunteered with Vacation Bible School events, elementary school festivals, and South 乔治亚州 Chrysalis retreats. She enjoyed serving in children’s ministry and having an impact on the world through mission trips.

Ward’s commitment to academic and service excellence resulted in her earning repeated Dean’s List recognitions, the Gerald Patrella Award for Outstanding Student Achievement in Mathematics Education, the 澳博体育app下载 校友 Association Endowment Fund Scholarship, and the Dorothy Dewar Service Scholarship.

毕业后, Ward plans to continue her education at 澳博体育app下载 and pursue a Master of Education in Elementary Education. She has also accepted a job at Sallas Mahone Elementary School in Valdosta, 她说, “I was once a student myself.”

“I am ready and excited to be a teacher giving back in my community,” she added. “总有一天, with more experience under my belt, I hope to become an academic coach or maybe an administrator.”

Her supportive family includes mother April Ward, 马克斯·沃德神父, brother Stewart Ward, sister Allie Ward, and sister-in-law Tenley Ward. Her parents, brother, and sister-in-law are all 澳博体育app下载 alumni.