Robyn Clarke is a rising senior at Ursinus College. She has a double major in History and Dance and is also pursuing Secondary Social Studies Certification. Robyn is a leader on the Ursinus campus, serving as an RA for the past two years as well as a Peer Advisor/Tutor this year. Earlier this semester, she was nominated and selected to present a research paper at two professional conferences. Robyn is a member of two dance companies at Ursinus, and has also participated in the National Endowment for the Arts: American Masterpiece Program. During her academic breaks, Robyn has volunteered in preschool through eighth grade classrooms in the Newark, NJ Public Schools, and she is committed to providing quality education in urban schools. One of Robyn’s recommenders wrote of her, “Robyn gives me hope for the future of the American education system. Her intellectual abilities, communication skills and interpersonal qualities are going to allow her to do great things for our children.”

Colleen Knill will be completing her BA in English and Secondary Education at Villanova next year. Colleen has been on the Dean’s List every semester at Villanova. The summer between high school and college, she participated in a volunteer abroad program in Ghana, where she taught English to children ages 8-13. During her time at Villanova, Colleen has been involved in the Blue Key Society, conducting campus tours and working in the admissions office, and she also spent two years as a member of the NCAA Division I varsity Track and Field team. Colleen has written articles and papers that have been accepted for presentation at conferences locally, nationally and internationally (Ireland). Last summer, Colleen was awarded a Villanova University Undergraduate Research Grant to conduct a study with urban youth regarding their perceptions of working with a mentor on their senior projects. One of her recommenders states that “she personifies the ethical values, the ideals and the potential for professional excellence that this scholarship recognizes and celebrates.”

Erika Pohl is pursuing a BS in Elementary and Special Education at the University of Delaware. She is a Dean’s List student with a 3.93 GPA. Erika has been a volunteer at an early learning center after school program for the past year, spent two summers working as the Waterfront Specialist at Malvern Day Camp, and has worked seasonally at The Goddard School in West Chester, which has re-hired her for this coming summer. Erika is very active on her campus. She is the co-founder of a new registered student organization for Elementary Education majors, secretary of Students for the Animals, a current member of the Alpha Lamda Delta Service Organization and the Swing Club, and a prior member of the E-52 Student Theater. One of her recommenders, the teacher she worked with this year for her methods practicum at Colwyck Elementary School, stated that she feels that Erika is a “natural” and that her “gift for teaching” is evident. In her essay, Erika expressed her desire to be a teacher in order to “catch ‘at risk’ and special education students before they begin to slip through the educational cracks.” It must also be mentioned that, in the eight-year history of this scholarship, Erika was the first student to include a journal reference and footnote citation in MLA style in her essay!

Julianne Spadine will be a senior next year at West Chester University, pursuing a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Reading. She has tutored students at West Chester as well as in the Even Start Program at Lang Elementary School in Kennett Square. Julianne is a community service oriented individual, having extensive involvement in the Circle K Service Organization (of which she has been elected President for the coming year), serving as the Co- Leader for various campus fundraisers such as the Good Cause Book Café and the West Chester Read Across America Day, as well as participating in numerous volunteer projects, including Toys for Tots, Light the Night Walk, St. Agnes Day Room soup kitchen, and the annual Philly Cares Day. She has been recognized for her service with various awards, including the Circle K Unsung Hero Award and the WCU Excellent Citizenship Award. Julianne is also a member of two honor societies: Alpha Upsilon Alpha and Kappa Delta Pi. As an aspiring teacher, Julianne wrote in her essay that she wants “to become a teacher to help and encourage students become lifelong learners and lifelong helpers of others.”