College of Education Pinning Ceremony honors December 2021 graduates

January 18, 2022

Purdue University College of Education honored the December 2021 graduates during the Teacher Education Pinning Ceremony on December 17, 2021. The Ceremony was held in the East/West Faculty Lounge in the Purdue Memorial Union.

Seventy-eight graduates received a lapel pin and a copy of the “Teacher’s Creed,” which they recited to conclude the program. The “Teachers Creed” states, in part, “I am a teacher. I change the world one student at a time.”

Keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony was Sarah TeKolste, 2022 IPS Teacher of the Year. Sarah TeKolste is a Spanish Teacher at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis. TeKolste has been an educator for over six years, and she has an impact on her students inside and out of the classroom. Inside the classroom, she uses research-based best practices to educate her students. Outside of the classroom, she runs a mentor program that aids underclassmen by pairing them with an upperclassman who will provide support during the transition into high school.

Purdue’s College of Education meets the challenges of educating 21st Century learners by discovering what works in education. The College prepares highly qualified educators and conducts research that informs how teachers teach and students learn. With a focus on integrated P-12 STEM education and a commitment to social justice and diversity, graduates are prepared to be leaders in education, business, and society.

The agenda included prepared remarks from:

  • Welcome from Dr. Kathryn Obenchain, Assistant Dean for Learning, Engagement and Global Initiatives
  • Remarks by Dr. Nancy Marchand-Martella, the Suzi and Dale Gallagher Dean of Education
  • Keynote Speaker Ms. Sarah TeKolste, 2022 IPS Teacher of the Year, Shortridge Highschool Spanish Teacher
  • Presentation of New Professionals from Mr. Stephen Smith, Secondary Education Coordinator
  • Recitation of the Teacher’s Creed led by Dr. David Eichinger, Associate Professor of Science Education and 150th Anniversary Professor
  • Closing Remarks by Dr. Jacquelyn Thomas-Miller, Director of the Office of Advising and Retention

Writer: Katie Cockerill, kcockeri@purdue.edu