The Sister Mary Dominic Merwick Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recognizes an undergraduate student of high academic achievement, exemplary student teaching, and service to education.
Holly Kennedy has been named the Merwick Award winner for 2009.
Ms. Kennedy will graduate in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Kennedy has been on the Dean's List for the past seven semesters. Her university supervisor noted that Ms. Kennedy is an outstanding student teacher who is able to command the classroom while providing the nurturing environment necessary for her kindergarten students to excel. Her cooperating teacher stated that Ms. Kennedy's knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions far exceed the expectations for a pre-service teacher candidate.
Ms. Kennedy has demonstrated leadership and service to the School of Education, Saint Xavier University, and the profession of teaching. In addition to her responsibilities as a student teacher, she is taking part in an SOE faculty research project on the effective implementation of the principles of Response to Intervention, specifically in mathematics. In recognition of her service to the SXU inner city schools' initiative, Ms. Kennedy represented the university at the Illinois Campus Compact Meeting. She earned the 2008 Leader Among Leaders Award for exemplary execution of her duties as a Resident Assistant. Ms. Kennedy played softball for SXU for three years and received the Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athlete Award for both the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
The School of Education is proud to recognize Holly Kennedy as an outstanding students and example of the SOE conceptual framework: Preparing scholars, lifelong learners, leaders, and reflective professionals who are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence.
Dean Gulley and the School of Education faculty and staff join in congratulating Ms. Kennedy, who was honored at the University Awards Ceremony on April 15, 2009.
