Graduates of the Graceland Master of Education in Collaborative Learning and Teaching program in Eastern Iowa celebrated completion of their degrees in January at the fourth annual Commencement Ceremony at Ballantyne Auditorium, Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Thirty seven degrees were conferred by Graceland's Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Parris Watts. Faculty and staff from our Lamoni campus and Cedar Rapids satellite campus participated in the event.
Dr. Watts addressed the graduates, citing the crucial role of furthering education for educators. He charged the graduates to embrace their roles as those who pass learning to the next generation. Graceland collaborates in Eastern Iowa with the Grant Wood AEA in bringing the program to area teachers. More than 300 students have enrolled in the Eastern Iowa M.Ed. program since its inception in 2003. All of this year's graduates hail from Iowa.
A heavy fog hung over Cedar Rapids on graduation day but families and friends of the graduates braved the weather to celebrate the passage of a great group of teachers to the rank of Master of Education. Faculty members Jill Olsen and Brad Colton provided comments summarizing the challenges and triumphs of their two-year journeys with the graduates. Keelyn Kanz, a graduate of Cedar Rapids, sang the Alma Mater. A reception was held for family and friends.
The great floods of 2008 occurred during the course of this cohort group. They persevered even though Cedar Rapids was one of the worst hit areas of the flood. Students and teachers of this program pitched in to help clean up the mess left by the flooding.
Graduates Andrew James Leman, of Coralville, and James Jay Park, of Cedar Rapids, provided insightful comments about the last two years when the working-educators added a rigorous academic program to their full-time teaching schedules. They spoke of making new friends, life-long friends with similar interests and goals; of being reminded that you are never too old to learn; of fun things like teaching the art of making sushi in a giant gymnasium, and then following it up with some lively salsa dancing; again, of relationships they made, experiences they had, knowledge they gained and the laughter along the way. They also spoke of the valuable experiences they had when visiting many other schools to see how things are done.
Those receiving degrees included: Leanne Marie Amelon, Iowa City; Emily Jo Anderson, Marion; Kristin Joann Baumgarth, North Liberty; Melissa Ann Bray, Springville; James Joseph Brewer, Iowa City; Martha Riley Brown, Cedar Rapids; Jade Nicole Calcara, Cedar Rapids; Lacey Leigh Chvala, Cedar Rapids; Lisa Ann Feldmann, Iowa City; Lisa Marie Frantz, Marion; Ashley Kay Goos, Marion; Michelle Lee Haren, North Liberty; Margaret Gerette Jacobson, Kalona; Stephanie Lynne Jelinek, Cedar Rapids; Keelyn Wyn Kanz, Cedar Rapids; Julie Marie Kilberger, Cedar Rapids; Kelle Anne Kolkmeier, Cedar Rapids; Gretchen Kay Lawler, Davenport; Andrew James Leman, Coralville; Rachel Ann Loria, Iowa City; Susannah Rain Maddock, Mount Vernon; Bonnie Jo Martensen, Cedar Rapids; Sarah Ann McLaughlin, North Liberty; Stacy Jo Meseck, North Liberty; Lisa Irene Olson, Oxford; Sara Denene Paisar, North Liberty; Curtiss Ray Pakkebier, Cedar Rapids; James Jay Park, Cedar Rapids; Ami Lynn Garvey Proctor, Cedar Rapids; Marcy McBeth Russell, Marion; Jennifer Lynn Schaffer, Cedar Rapids; Nichole M. Sieck, Cedar Rapids; Tara Lynn Tolly, Cedar Rapids; Melissa Jane Wheatley, Coggon; Megan Victoria Wilson, North Liberty; and Michele Lynn Wilson, Mount Vernon.
For information about the Master of Education in Collaborative Learning and Teaching degree in eastern Iowa, please contact Judy Chapman at 319-399-6845, or email jchapman@graceland.edu or visit the Graceland University website at: http://www.graceland.edu/242.
