Campus News

Congratulations to our first ROCK SOLID REGENTS for the fall semester, Amber Dargel and Emma Reidner. Amber and Emma received a joint nomination from Dr. Lydia Gerzel-Short, Assistant Professor of Education. They are both special education majors. Amber is in her senior year at RU and Emma is classified as a junior. Dr. Gerzel-Short shared that she nominated these students because of their commitment to special education and their recent team presentation at the annual conference for the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children. They collaborated with Dr. Gerzel-Short to co-present a 90-minute training titled, Engaging Hard to Reach Students. The presentation focused on how to support students with significant behavioral challenges such as self-injurious behavior and stereotypic behavior. Their work and dedication to this project was evidenced in the quality of their presentation and their delivery of the materials. Their conference session was so well attended that there was standing room only in the room!

Amber is from Winnebago, Illinois and is currently completing her student teaching internship. Her internship responsibilities includes providing instruction to students with moderate to severe disabilities. After graduation from RU she looks forward to obtaining a job in her area of passion and expertise, special education.

Emma is from Princeton, Illinois. Emma shares that RU has been a great place for her to study because of all the opportunities it has offered her. She is thankful that all of her professors have been so supportive and have gone above and beyond to help her be successful. After graduation Emma plans to fulfill her Golden Apple Scholarship teaching requirement by teaching in an Illinois school of need.

Dr. Lydia Gerzel-Short is very proud of these two teacher candidates. Congratulations Amber and Emma, you are each a true representation of what it means to be a ROCK SOLID REGENT!