EHE News

EHE donors provide $1 million in scholarships for positive world change

Kristall Graham

"It is through the selfless acts of donors that people like me can take a step closer to reaching their dreams. Thank you for your support, and thank you for believing in us."

Kristall Graham, a PhD student in special education and applied behavior analysis, spoke for all the scholarship recipients on Friday, September 26, 2008, at the college's annual Graduate Scholarship Tea held at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. In her moving speech, Graham described her small town rural roots and her seven years as a special education teacher in a variety of settings, including at an MRDD and suburban and urban schools.

"My acceptance into the outstanding special education PhD program at Ohio State was one of the most exciting events in my life," Graham said. "I am still ecstatic that I get to continue my education while preparing for a leadership role that will allow me to impact a larger population of students in need."

The annual tea marked one of two events this year where the college presented students with scholarships, fellowships, and research or travel awards. At the undergraduate Celebration of Excellence, held in May 2008, we presented awards to 180 students. The total awarded by the college at both events is $1,028,803 to 402 students. Generous donors to EHE make this spectacular show of support possible.

Donors who could be present delighted in meeting and congratulating their scholarship recipients. Faculty, staff, and alumni volunteers hosted the tables, presenting the award certificates to each student. Alumna Sherry Goubeaux, a member of the EdLums alumni board and an elementary school teacher, said she was honored to present the Kappa Phi Kappa scholarships, as well as represent the generosity of Edith M. Slabaugh and Wilhelmena Slaymaker-Kinsey. "Recipients told me they felt honored and rewarded for their hard work by these scholarships," Goubeaux says. "Several told me the scholarship made it possible for them to continue their education. As I shook hands with each hardworking student, I extended a hearty congratulations, not only from those donors, but from the entire alumni community."

Kristall Graham summed up the students' feelings so evident in the banquet room that day. "I truly believe that our appreciation can never be totally captured in words, but I hope our actions upon graduation will speak volumes. Through these scholarship awards, the world will change in a positive way."

Stellar students recruited with new EHE awards

Seven new awards, one for each unit and a dean's award, were created this year to attract outstanding graduate students. Each award offers full tuition, a monthly stipend, and a travel allowance. Two of the awards given to date are as follows:

Dean's Award - YunHwan Kim

YunHwan Kim

Department of Human Development and Family Science
Funded by the Lucile and Roland Kennedy Scholarship in Home Economics

YunHwan Kim graduated from Yonsei University, one of the three Korean SKY universities with reputations similar to Ivy League universities. Yonsei University is considered to have the top human development program at a university in Korea and across Asia. In addition to working for Yonsei's Child Development Research Institute for three years, Kim found it exciting to serve as a coordinator of a children's science camp for three years. There, he developed education programs in collaboration with doctoral students majoring in science (i.e., physics, chemistry, engineering), recruited and trained teachers to work with the children, and promoted the camp.

"YunHwan Kim's test scores speak for themselves, but evidence of his academic abilities is far beyond just test scores," said Associate Professor Natasha Slesnick, with whom Kim will work on her homeless youth research projects. "His recommendations from his professors suggest that he was one of the top students, if not the top student in the program."

Director's Award - Christina Bragg

Christina Bragg

School of Teaching and Learning
Funded by the Emerson S. and Lucy J. Zuck Scholarship and the Antoinette Lowry Barr Scholarship

With an MS in reading education from our college, Christina Bragg taught social studies at Winfield High School, West Virginia, her alma mater, for seven years before returning to the School of Teaching and Learning to study for a PhD in social studies and global education.

While at Winfield High, Bragg worked to improve teaching through two federally funded Teaching American History projects. She was also one of 20 teachers selected by the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia to study in China and Korea during the summer of 2005

"Christy demonstrates the intellectual curiosity and engagement in the world that our program values," says Professor Merry Merryfield, School of Teaching and Learning. "Her strengths in cross-cultural experiential learning and in teaching international understanding are critical assets in social studies and global education."