By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY. - Campbellsville University students receiving education degrees were told to “be the best teacher you can be; work at it” by Dr. Frank Cheatham, senior vice president for academic affairs at CU in the School of Education's Pinning Ceremony May 3 in the Russ Mobley Theater.

Cheatham told the students, which had the largest group of student teachers ever at 49, “We have the best School of Education program in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You can talk to principals and superintendents, and they are very pleased with our product.”

Sixty-one students were graduating in this year's School of Education class.

Cheatham told the students to make a difference and pay it forward as they begin their teaching careers. He told the students he was sitting in their place in 1965 and began his career as a math and biology teacher at Taylor County High School - a position he held one year.

He has been a professor and vice president at Campbellsville University since 1973.

Cheatham urged the students to take time to thank those who helped and supported them sometime before the commencement weekend was over.

“Find that special person and say ‘thank you,'” he said.

He congratulated them on behalf of Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University.

Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education, said the class had the largest number of student teachers and “wonderful and creative ideas can come from students.”

She explained the puzzle pin each was getting was the embodiment of “empowerment for learning - advancing scholars who are competent, caring and qualified,” which is the theme of the School of Education.

“Our students know how to be successful,” she said.

Maribeth Milburn, a senior from Lawrenceburg, Ky., who graduated with a P-5 elementary education degree, spoke on behalf of the graduating class and urged her fellow students to be “good teachers and to be like Jesus.”

“We can be like him (Jesus) in the classroom,” she said and told the students to find “joy, peace and kindness.”

Devin Reynolds, a senior from Campbellsville, gave the Educator Prayer for the benediction.

The Campbellsville Singers, composed of Daniel Beams, Alia McClendon, Michaela Parker, Blake Herron, P.J. Randles, Sarah Porter, Dakota Rogers and Singrid Tipton, performed special music. Matt Hodge, instructor in theater and fine arts recruiter, is the director of the Singers.

Students receiving their pins in the interdisciplinary early childhood education program are from left: Front row —  Paula Stinnett, Sarah Theimer, Misty Murray, Casey Dishman and Shelby Dean. Back row — Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education; Sara Parker, Candi Johnson, Whitney Burks, Amanda Greer, DeShay Dishman, Crystal Warren and Dr. Sharon Hundley, associate professor of education and chair of early childhood education. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Those on the program of the pinning ceremony were as follows: early childhood education, interdisciplinary early childhood education - Whitney Burks, Shelby Dean, Casey Dishman, DeShay Dishman, Tammy Emerson, Ashley Emmons, Amanda Greer, Candi Johnson, Beatrice Kelty, Misty Murray, Sara Parker, Lisa Parry, Laura Prince, Susan Richardson, Paula Stinnett, Sarah Theimer, Sharri Trowell and Crystal Warren;

Campbellsville University students in the early childhood education program receiving pins were from left with Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean, at far left: Jacqueline Lefevers, Angela Price and Angela Skaggs with Dr. Sharon Hundley, associate professor of education and chair of early childhood education. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

Early childhood education - Dorothy Albritten, LaTonya Blount, Dawn Haywood, Tiffany Jones, Jacqueline Lefevers, Danielle Mullins, Angela Price, Angela Skaggs, Jennifer Smith and Odessa Smith;

Campbellsville University students, from left, who attended the pinning and who received P-5, elementary education degrees are: Brooke Cato, Danielle Bastin, McLane Farr, Maggie Cloyd, Kotey Crowe, Countney Gupton, Nancy Meadows, Trista Schwoebel, Maribeth Milburn, Chelsea Smith, Alena Maggard, Kaela Vessels, Robin Smith, Corinne Watson, Delana Hendrix and Megan Parson. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

P-5, elementary education - Danielle Bastin, Brooke Cato, Maggie Cloyd, Kotey Crowe, McLane Farr, Courtney Gupton, Delana Hendrix, Alena Maggard, Nancy Meadows, Maribeth Milburn, Megan Parson, Trista Schwoebel, Chelsea Smith, Robin Smith, Kaela Vessels and Corinne Watson;

Campbellsville University students receiving their 5-9, middle grades education pins were from left with Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education, far left, and Dr. Beverly Ennis, associate professor of education, far right, with Tori Banks, Ashley Wilson and Paige Thompson. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

5-9, middle graduates education - Tori Banks, Paige Thompson and Ashley Wilson;

CU students receiving 5-12, middle/secondary education, were from left: Jasmine Barnett, Zachary Smith and Lee Anna VanDyke. Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education, is at far left, and Dr. Beverly Ennis, associate professor of education, is at far right. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

5-12, middle/secondary education - Jasmine Barnett, Zachary Smith and Lee Anna VanDyke;

Students from Campbellsville University's School of Education receiving 8-12, secondary education degrees were from left with Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education, far left, and Dr. Robert VanEst, professor of education, far right: Courtney Claywell and Shelby Pfeiffer. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

8-12, secondary education - Courtney Claywell, Shelby Pfeiffer and Will Warf; and

Pinning students in P-12, elementary/secondary education from left were Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education, far left, and Dr. Donna Hedgepath, associate profess or education and chair of undergraduate programs. Students, from left: are Shane Morris, Ben Grey, Jenna Embry, Jericho McCoy and Shana Palumbo. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

P-12, elementary/secondary education - Mary Compton, Craig Edwards, Jenna Embry, Ben Grey, Jericho McCoy, Shane Morris, Shana Palumbo and John Schoenbachler.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.