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State Farm teacher interns recognized

June 27, 2006

KALAMAZOO--Thirty Western Michigan University students, who received $1,000 each from the State Farm Companies Foundation to support their participation as teacher interns during spring semester, were honored at a reception during May in Lansing, Mich.

Dr. Gary L. Wegenke, dean of the WMU College of Education, delivered the opening remarks at the reception, which was attended by several state legislators, officials from State Farm and WMU and by 29 of the 30 student recipients of State Farm-funded internships.

The internships were awarded through WMU's School University Partnership Team. Each of the students successfully completed a teaching internship, with 24 students interning at nine different schools in the Kalamazoo Public Schools system.

State Farm contributed $30,000 for scholarships and $6,000 in additional program support for the university's SUPT program, which has been recognized nationally by the Association for Teacher Educators as a Distinguished Program in Teacher Education.

"We are pleased to be able to continue our support of this important program and to help these outstanding young men and women pursue their career goals," says Mark Odland, vice president operations at State Farm. "Today's education system is producing tomorrow's workforce, and State Farm is proud to again partner with WMU in cooperation with area public schools, to provide outstanding learning opportunities for tomorrow's classroom teachers."

Through the SUPT program, special emphasis was placed on locating interns in "urban schools of promise." Over the past three years, for example, a total of 10 State Farm-funded interns have worked at Washington Writer's Academy, and this year alone, eight interned at Edison Environmental Science Academy. Washington and Edison are KPS magnet schools.

This past year, the State Farm Companies Foundation made contributions to WMU totaling $75,000. In addition to the $36,000 contributed for SUPT, State Farm gifts supported minority scholarships in the College of Education and Haworth College of Business as well as several ongoing initiatives in support of financial planning courses in the business college, including funding for the State Farm Professorship for Financial Services.

Listed below are the names of the students who participated in SUPT internships during spring semester, their home towns and the names and locations of the schools in which they interned.

Roshona Dionn Christopher, a senior from Detroit, interned at Edison Environment Science Academy in Kalamazoo.

Jessica L. Church, a senior from Battle Creek, Mich., interned at Gilkey Elementary School in Plainwell.

Stacey A. Cook, a senior from Laingsburg, Mich., interned at Northeastern Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Heather D. Coombs, a senior from Holt, Mich., interned at King-Westwood Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Kaylyne Jo Eicher, a senior from Kalamazoo, interned at Edison Environment Science Academy in Kalamazoo.

Rocann L. Fleming, a senior from Kalamazoo, interned at Millwood Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Eric S. Grabow, a senior from Troy, Mich., interned at Edison Environment Science Academy in Kalamazoo.

Katherine C. Gutteridge, a senior from Grand Blanc, Mich., interned at Edison Environment Science Academy in Kalamazoo.

Brandon M. Hall, a senior from Brooklyn, Mich., interned at Edison Environment Science Academy in Kalamazoo.

Kristen T. Hatalsky, a senior from Warren, Mich., interned at Jefferson Elementary School in Warren.

Ashley S. Henry, a senior from Canton, Mich., interned at Edison Environment Science Academy in Kalamazoo.

Joshua F. Hill, a senior from Nashville, Mich., interned at Galesburg Primary School in Galesburg.

Marsha A. Lushnick, a senior from Chicago, interned at Northeastern Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Lisa A. Maes, a senior from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., interned at Northeastern Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Christina Mansell, a senior from St. Clair, Mich., interned at Indian Prairie Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Julie F. McManus, a senior from Midland, Mich., interned at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo.

Maresa Angela Morelli, a senior from Warren, Mich., interned at Washington Writers' Academy in Kalamazoo.

Maren R. Nielson, a senior from Albion, Mich., interned at Galesburg Primary School in Galesburg.

Carrie M. Norberg, a senior from Lawton, Mich., interned at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts in Kalamazoo.

Jennifer L. Ransom, a senior from Lansing, Mich., interned at Comstock Northeast Middle School in Comstock Township.

Corrie A. Razmus, a senior from Ada, Mich., interned at Indian Prairie Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Lindsey Ann Renauld, a senior from Kalamazoo, interned at Galesburg-Augusta Middle School in Augusta.

Frank A. Rocco, a senior from Kalamazoo, interned at Winchell Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Alexia E. Ruelas, a senior from Portage, Mich., interned at Winchell Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Christopher B. Schneider, a senior from Brighton, Mich., interned at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts in Kalamazoo.

Emily J. Smikle, a senior from Portage, Mich., interned at Edison Environment Science Academy in Kalamazoo.

Nicholas A. Stathakis, a senior from St. Joseph, Mich., interned at Northeastern Elementary in Kalamazoo.

Lisa J. Sutton, a senior from Kalamazoo, interned at Milwood Elementary School in Kalamazoo.

Mary K. Vanderbeck, a senior from Kingman, Ariz., interned at Washington Writers' Academy in Kalamazoo.

Kelsey R. Viher, a senior from Jackson, Mich., interned at Edison Environment Science Academy in Kalamazoo.

Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

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