Month: December 2015

Shelter dogs teach kids about character

Students at Edwardsville Elementary School are learning about respect, character and compassion from area shelter dogs.

Representatives from Wayside Waifs, which has an animal shelter and campus in south Kansas City, Mo., and offers services in various locations in the Kansas City area, spent two weeks with Edwardsville Elementary students.

The third, fourth and fifth grade classrooms met with Wayside representatives five times.

During the course of the lessons, students learned about respect for others. Instructors focused on bullying, sharing stories of abused pets and the effects of abuse.

Kerry Copple, a third grade teacher at Edwardsville, organized the visits. She said it was important for her students to learn more about these sensitive topics.

“It was great for them to see a real world example, and hear about the real effects of bullying,” Copple said. “I think some students could even relate on a deeper level to what some of these animals went through before going to the shelter.”

Each lesson was accompanied by a visit from one of the shelter’s dogs. Copple said the visits also helped some students address fears they developed over time.

“Some of my students had bad experiences with dogs before, and by the end of the week they felt comfortable enough to feed the dogs a treat,” Copple said.

The lessons and materials used during the presentations were provided at no cost by Wayside Waifs.

Several Wyandotte County students to receive degrees from Emporia State

Several Wyandotte County students are on the fall graduation list at Emporia State University.

Undergraduates will receive their degrees at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 12 at White Auditorium, Emporia; graduate students will be hooded at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 at Albert Taylor Hall in Plumb Hall on the Emporia State campus.

Students from Wyandotte County who are candidates for degrees include:

• Elizabeth K. Fanning of Bonner Springs, Kan., with a Master of Science degree in master teacher with a concentration in elementary.

• Katie Marie McGlinn of Bonner Springs, Kan., with a Master of Science degree in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in curriculum lead concentration/pre k-12.

• Joy Lynn Brown of Edwardsville, Kan., with a Master of Science degree in instructional design and technology.

• Kelly K Chastain of Kansas City, Kan., magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in elementary education.

• Rebecca Lynn Coffman of Kansas City, Kan., magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in art.

• Guangyi Gao of Kansas City, Kan., with a Master of Arts degree in biology with a concentration in microbial and cellular biology.

• Erickia Rashondra Grant of Kansas City, Kan., with a Master of Science degree in master teacher with a concentration in elementary.

• Samantha Erin Jacob of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology.

• Corey Joseph Johnston of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in physical education and health education.

• Tola Lawal of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree with a minor in sociology.

• Kendall Marie Lee of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Science in educadtion degree in elementary education.

• Francene Teresa Lopez of Kansas City, Kan., cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in educationdegree in elementary education.

• Jalessa Latrice Lorick of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree.

• Lacy Janae McIntosh of Kansas City, Kan., with a Master of Science degree in special education with a concentration in teaching of gifted.

• Dawna Ofstehage of Kansas City, Kan., with a Master of Library Science degree with a concentration in librarianship for children – young adults.
• Samantha Gail Osiek of Kansas City, Kan., cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in elementary education.

• Dora Isela Sandoval of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in elementary education.

• Hilaire Rose Spears of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in elementary education.

• Dawn E Todd of Kansas City, Kan., cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in elementary education.

• Kendall Wallace of Kansas City, Kan., with a Master of Science degree in instructional design and technology.

• Leesa Lyn White of Kansas City, Kan., cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in education in elementary education.

• Tamika Skaun’ta Williams of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in elementary education.

• Cosette Millbern Wilson of Kansas City, Kan., with a Bachelor of Science in education degree in elementary education.

Kansas Regent Zoe Newton of Sedan will give remarks during both ceremonies. James Persinger, psychology professor and 2015 Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor, will address the undergraduates.

For those unable to attend, both ceremonies will be streamed on the Internet live. The link for the live stream as well as other information can be found online at www.emporia.edu/commencement.