Through its annual awards program, the Auburn University College of Education has recognized nine students, four faculty members, two staff members for excellence in and contributions to the college.  In addition, the college awarded its annual outstanding alumnus award to Georgia school superintendent Dr. Ron Saunders '70.

Outstanding undergraduate and graduate student award recipients are selected by their departments and recognized by the college.  These awards were presented by the

• Department of Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology and School Psychology to school psychology graduate student Christina Castelin
• Department of Curriculum and Teaching to senior elementary education major Amy White and secondary English language arts education doctoral student Kristi "Paige" Paquette 
• Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology to senior adult education major Kerron Stewart and educational psychological graduate student Jennifer Bell
• Department of Kinesiology to senior exercise science major Jenna Valaer and exercise science doctoral student Casey Breslin
• Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education to senior collaborative teacher special education major Alyshia Chavez and rehabilitation services doctoral student John "Chad" Duncan

The college's Gerald and Emily Leischuck Outstanding Teaching Awards recognize excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Recipients of this year's Leischuck Outstanding Teaching Awards are Dr. Jada Kohlmeier, for teaching at the undergraduate level in the college's Secondary Social Science Education program, and Dr. Kimberly Walls, for teaching at the graduate level in the college's Music Education program.  Both are faculty members in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching.

Dr. Peter Hastie received the college's Outstanding Faculty award for Research.  Hastie, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology, serves as the program area coordinator and graduate program officer for the Physical Education-Teacher Education program.

Dr. Leah Robinson received the college's Outstanding Faculty Early Career Award for excellence, research and outreach during her first year as an AU faculty member.  Robinson is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology.

Outstanding Staff Awards went to Charlotte Barnes, executive assistant to the dean in the Office of the Dean, and Regina H. Hutchinson, an office administrator in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching.

Dr. Ron Saunders, a 1970 social science education graduate, was recognized as the college's outstanding alumnus.  In addition to his service to the college as a member of its National Advisory Council since 2002, Saunders' service as superintendent of Barrow County Schools   in Winder, Ga. garnered recent recognition that includes 2008 Georgia Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia School Superintendents Association, and being among the top 10 "tech savvy" K-12 executives as considered by eSchool News.

Awards were presented at the college's 27th annual awards and recognition ceremony at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center on Monday, April 14.

Learn about our past faculty and staff honorees  Learn about our past alumni honorees  View event photos in our online photo gallery