UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Elizabeth Daly has been selected as the College of Education's student marshal for the summer semester 2018 commencement ceremony, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's University Park campus. Daly selected Christine McDonald, instructor in education, to escort her as the college’s faculty marshal.
Daly, from Ramsey, New Jersey, will graduate with a bachelor's degree in childhood and early adolescent education (pre-K to 4) with a minor in special education. Kate Woodman has served as her academic adviser.
She was an intern at Lemont Elementary School in the State College Area School District, participating in the full-year Professional Development School (PDS). Daly's primary PDS assignment was to a kindergarten classroom, with a second-grade partner classroom. Her responsibilities included full-time student teaching 20 kindergarten students under the supervision of a mentor teacher and adviser, and writing and performing lesson plans in math, reading, writing, science and social studies. She also worked to find new ways to integrate the use of iPads and audio into daily literacy stations.
Her work experience includes placements in Penn State's Bennett Family Center and Child Care at Hort Woods through two of her courses. She also served as a counselor at Ramapo Country Day Camp in Airmont, New York, and in various teaching and logistical roles at Ridgewood Performing Arts Studio in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
Daly also participated in LifeLink PSU, assisting college-aged students with special needs in various everyday activities to encourage and foster independence, and she worked for Sharing the Arts in Bergen County, New Jersey, where she helped provide children with special needs the opportunity to participate in various performing art activities, including theater, voice and dance.
Daly's parents, Michael and Bettina, and other family members plan to attend the ceremony.
She will be continuing her education in the College of Education, earning her master’s degree in special education through the college's 4+1 program.