UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State student Katharine Elizabeth Hallinger has been selected to be the student marshal for Spring 2015 Commencement in the College of Education. She will be recognized during the undergraduate ceremony scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at the Bryce Jordan Center. Hallinger selected Mary Jayne Coon-Kitt to escort her as the college’s faculty marshal.
Hallinger is a childhood and early adolescent education (CEAED) major with minors in special education, deafness and hearing studies. She was one of 50 students to participate at the elementary level in Professional Development School (PDS), a collaborative, 185-day, full-time, elementary student-teaching internship in a kindergarten through fourth-grade setting in the State College Area School District.
During her PDS experience, she gained experience in all aspects of teaching, working as a co-teacher in a first-grade classroom, and also observing and teaching in a third-grade partner classroom on a weekly basis.
While at Penn State, Hallinger maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average, all while being in a leadership role with Pillar, a special interest organization involved with the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON); and assisting in the founding of Special Interest Association, an umbrella organization to help the 26 special interest organizations of THON function more effectively.
Hallinger’s teaching achievements reach outside the classroom. She has worked as a camp counselor for both the Shaver’s Creek Outdoor School and Raven’s Run Art Camp, and worked as a field trip leader for the Delaware River Steam Boat Floating Classroom.
Her parents, Kris and Betsy Hallinger, her brothers, John and David Hallinger, her uncle and grandmother plan to attend the ceremony. Currently, her future plans include securing a teaching position in an elementary school.
The College of Education program marshals are:
Childhood and Early Adolescent Education: Gillian Cedrone, escorted by Jennifer Lane.
Education and Public Policy: Parker Adam Werns, escorted by David Gamson.
Rehabilitation and Human Services: Jennifer Leigh Slivka, escorted by Pia Smal.
Secondary Education: Brianna Lynn Rauenzahn, escorted by Albert D’Ambrosia.
Special Education: Jillian Nicole Simmons, escorted by Patrick Shannon.
Workforce Education and Development: Nina Kay Eckert, escorted by Mark Threeton.
World Languages Education: Ashley Danielle Clauer, escorted by Megan Hopkins.