Five Honored as May Distinguished Honor Graduates

5/14/08

May 2008 Distinguished Honor Graduates are (front, from left to right) Lindsie O'Neill and Lindsay Nannen, (middle) Kimberly Evans, Ashley Spittler, Sheri Yetter, Krystle Paolini and Brenda Sandoval and (back) Thomas "T.J." Sanders and Josh O'Rear. Not pictured is Jami Lobpries.

Five TLAC graduating seniors, Kimberly Evans, Lindsie O'Neill, Josh O'Rear, Krystle Paolini and Ashley Spittler, were recognized as May 2008 Distinguished Honor Graduates at a ceremony in their honor on Friday, May 9.

Kimberly Evans

Kimberly is a Pre K through fourth grade elementary education major. She currently works as a substitute teacher for Bryan ISD and feels that her experiences at Texas A&M have deepened her passion for working with children. Kimberly feels that passion for, and enjoyment of, teaching are two essentials when working with children. She hopes to apply these while working with children in either a church or school setting.

Kimberly is thankful for the professors she has had throughout her four years with the College. She credits her senior methods and student teaching experiences as tremendously impacting her plans after graduation. Kimberly will be moving to Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and hopes to pursue a career working with children.

Her coursework has shown her how to create a positive learning atmosphere for students as well as how to care for students as individuals.

Kimberly was named to the Dean's Honor Roll each year for her academic achievements and will graduate Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPR.

Lindsie O'Neill

Lindsie is a Pre K through fourth grade elementary education major with ESL certification. Lindsie's plan is to use the experiences and schooling she received from Texas A&M as a tool to be successful, outspoken and enabled in the classroom. Her desire is to become a positive role model in the Texas education system because we "always expect more of aggie teachers."

As a student in the college, Lindsie kept herself busy with extra curricular activities along with a variety of different jobs. She was a representative for the Residence Hall Association; a member of Texas A&M's Collegiate 4-H; a member of Kappa Delta Pi international education honor society; and a National Scholars Honor member. She also has worked as a nanny and babysitter, in a church nursery, and with 4-H and Youth Development through the Texas AgriLife Extension Youth Protection Services.

Through her organizations and other activities she has been honored with awards that include the Kappa Delta Pi Honor and National Scholars Honor, the Association of Former Students Scholar, and the Texas 4-H Scholar awards.

When she thinks about what she will treasure most within the Education program, Lindsie thinks about the people she's worked with. She is appreciative of her advisors, her study abroad experience in Poland and the Czech Republic, girls in her Methods class, her professors, and the office staff in Heaton Hall. The family and friends she has made in Aggieland are the reason why she has made it so far today.

Lindsie will graduate cum laude with a 3.57 GPR.

Josh O'Rear

Josh is a math and science education major for grades 4-8. Through his employment experiences and education, Josh learned how to establish positive relationships with students and parents, how to teach students with various learning styles, and how to establish effective and safe learning environments for his students.

Josh kept his daily schedule full of academic, extracurricular, and student employment activities. He has been a member of Aggies for Christ and One Army: Texas Aggie Men United. He also has worked for the Champions After-School Program in Bryan, as a tutor at the Hearne After-School Program, as a substitute teacher for Bryan ISD, and will start a teaching internship with Richardson ISD in the fall.

While teaching in Richardson this fall. Josh will rely on lessons he learned while a student of Professor Milam's, who taught him how students learn math and how he can teach his students to understand math concepts by building upon their prior knowledge.

Josh will graduate summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPR.

Krystle Paolini

Krystle is a math and science education major for grades 4-8. As a student at Texas A&M, Krystle has been an active member of Aggie Sisters for Christ, Impact, MSC Lead (a sophomore leadership organization) and Doulos (a freshman bible study). She has been named to the Dean's List for the fall and spring 2005, fall 2006 and 2007, and spring 2008.

Teaching and counseling have been a key focus to Krystle's college career. She has worked as a student teacher for eighth grade math at Jane Long Middle School, a counselor at Camp Ozark, and a MOPS teacher at FBC Bryan.

Krystle says that her student teaching experience greatly impacted and shaped her philosophy of education and her passion for teaching. She feels that she learned how to effectively implement instruction in eight grade math and plans to do so next year when she starts her new job as an eighth grade math teacher for Plano ISD.

After graduation, Krystle says that she will apply the effective classroom management techniques, the knowledge of mathematics, and the understanding of adolescent development she learned while at Texas A&M into her own classroom. She is appreciative of the friendly and helpful staff and advisors in the College who always encouraged her to succeed. Krystle will graduate Magna Cum Laude with a 3.8 GPR.

Ashley Spittler

Ashley is an elementary education major whose focus is early childhood through grade four. In her future, she hopes to be able to obtain a career in teaching and make a difference in children's lives. Ashley would like to teach children in a way that will allow them to reach their full potential and says that her field experience and education she gained throughout college will help her accomplish this goal.

Ashley credits her student teaching experience as having the most significant impact on plans after graduation. Through student teaching, she has learned so many things about children and about herself that she can use in her future. She has gained the confidence and self esteem she needs in order to be a successful teacher and this will help her meet the needs of her students.

Ashley has been on the Dean's List all four years of college recognizing her academic successes. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and has been a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society since she was a sophomore.

Following graduation she hopes to teach elementary school in the Bryan/College Station area. Ashley will graduate Summa Cum Laude with a 3.9 GPR.