The College of Education at the University of Central Arkansas recently honored 122 graduates and Master of Arts in Teaching candidates during its fourth annual Pinning Ceremony at the Reynolds Performing Arts Center.
The time-honored tradition marks the occasion when one is welcomed into the teaching profession. Candidates were presented a College of Education pin that not only signifies their association with the university, but also represents their affiliation with the honorable profession of teaching. Those receiving pins were the December 2009 and May 2010 graduates.Several special awards were presented during the ceremony including a Posthumous Professor Emeritus with Distinction Award. The award was bestowed upon the late Cecil Garrison by Dr. Lance Grahn, UCA provost. Garrison, who worked at UCA for 32 years, was a coach and a professor in the Physical Education Department. He was the first chair of the Department of Educational Media and Library Science.
Thelma Garrison, Garrison’s wife, and his son, Gerald Garrison, proudly accepted this award on behalf of the family.
Mara Cawein, faculty advisor to Kappa Delta Pi, presented Outstanding Mentor Teacher awards to Vicki Trammell and Lisa Goodnight, both from the Greenbrier School District.
Megan Moore of Conway and Rebecca Johnson of Jonesboro received Outstanding Student Teacher awards. Dr. Kathleen Atkins, chair of the Department of Early Childhood and Special Education, presented Maegan Johnston of Bald Knob with the Outstanding Student Award from the College of Education.
Ray Simon, who has been involved in public education for 44 years, was the guest speaker for the event. Simon has worked across all levels of the education delivery system from the classroom to the federal government. He most recently served at the United States Department of Education in the capacity of deputy secretary, the second highest ranking official at the agency.
Simon received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Central Arkansas, and holds an educational specialist degree in school administration from the University of Arkansas.
A reception followed the ceremony in the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center.
Matt Patterson, a May 2010 Early Childhood Education major, said it was an honor to participate in the ceremony.
“I know that UCA was formerly ‘the teachers college,’ and having the special ceremony before graduation made it seem like the university had gone to its roots,” he explained.
Amanda Coleman, who served as a mentor for a student teacher during the spring semester, said she was honored to be invited to the ceremony.
“I think educators have a very special calling, and the ceremony reinforced the importance that we all have on the lives of the children we impact on a daily basis,” Coleman said. “I was moved to tears as I watched the video with photographs of the UCA students during their student teaching experiences.”
The slide show, produced by Adam Stone in the Technology Learning Center, depicted UCA’s teacher education graduates with their K-12 students. Dr. Diana Pounder, dean of the College of Education, said the slide show as particularly touching as it reminded her of the many joys and challenges the graduates will have as they begin their careers with school-aged children.
“I miss those enriching experiences and envy our graduates beginning this stage of their career,” Pounder said. “I am so proud of all of our graduates and look forward to hearing about their future professional achievements.”
