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K-State Today

December 8, 2014

College of Education earns three national awards at continuing education conference

Submitted by Patrice Scott

Awards winners at the ACHE conference

Two College of Education programs and one faculty member received national awards at a recent conference celebrating excellence in adult education.

The Association for Continuing Higher Education's annual conference was Oct. 27-29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The theme was "Winning Together: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work."

Jeff Zacharakis, associate professor of educational leadership, received the leadership award, the highest award presented by the association. It recognizes a person's extraordinary contributions in leadership, theory and practice in continuing higher education on a national or international level.

The college's academic advising program received the association's credit program award. The special education, counseling and student affairs department, K-State Global Campus and National Academic Advising Association: The Global Community for Academic Advising, developed the program's 15-credit hour certificate and 30-credit hour master's degree.

Go Teacher, an innovative program developed in the Center for Multilingual and Intercultural Advocacy to enhance the English skills of Ecuadorian TSEL teachers, received the association's outstanding services to underserved populations award.

Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education, believes timeless principles combined with progressive programs yields results.

"Innovation and excellence will always be celebrated in education because the field must grow and change to meet learners' needs," Mercer said. "The fact that our college was recognized with three national awards in such a highly competitive field speaks directly to the caliber and commitment of our faculty."