Four Reich College of Education (RCOE) students have been inducted into the Cratis D. Williams Society of Outstanding Graduates: Megan Laws, Sarah Sexton, Michelle Wetherington, and Jacob Wilson.
The society is designed to include each year’s top graduates of the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School at Appalachian State University – approximately the top 2%. Students are chosen based upon their academic performance, their engagement in their discipline, and their potential for leadership.
Megan Laws
Megan Laws, originally from Granite Falls, North Carolina, completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Appalachian in 2018 and graduated this December with her master’s degree in reading education.
“I feel honored to be inducted into the Cratis D. Williams Society,” said Laws. “Graduate school has brought a new set of challenges and hurdles, and I have faced those head-on. This award is proof of my hard work and dedication.”
Laws chose to pursue the reading education accelerated admissions program because she enjoys reading and wanted to share her love of reading with her students. “This program is so much more than I could have ever expected and it has reignited the reader in me! I can't wait to help students discover, wonder, and question the world around them through literature,” said Laws.
She chose to attend Appalachian for three reasons:
- Reich College of Education,
- the location in the mountains and
- “most importantly the community!”
After graduation, Laws will serve as an interim second-grade teacher for Watauga County Schools.
Sarah Sexton
Sarah Sexton, originally from St. Albans, Vermont, graduated this December with her doctorate in educational leadership. She completed her B.S. in early childhood education from Boston University, and her M.A. in special education and M.Ed. in educational leadership at Bank Street College in New York, New York.
“I am humbled to have chosen for induction into the Cratis D. Williams Society of Outstanding Graduates,” said Sexton. “I am honored and privileged to have had the support and inspiration from colleagues, cohort mates, and faculty that paved the way for a successful journey. I am excited for my son to know the recognition that can come from persevering and striving for excellence.”
Sexton was excited at the opportunity to study with the faculty at Appalachian. “The reputation of the doctoral program and the flexibility of the program to allow me to engage in action research important to me, my community, and my field of work in early childhood intervention were the deciding factors,” she noted.
Though it had been 20 years since she had completed her master’s degree, “the time was right both professionally and personally to pursue a doctorate in educational leadership,” said Sexton. “My professional goals required a background in research and writing, and the focus on educational leadership not only prepared me to assume a leadership position with my organization, but opened doors to serve my community and state, and collaborate in new ways with other professionals in my field of work.”
Sexton plans to continue her role as the Associate Director of the Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP) in Morganton, North Carolina. “I have plans to publish my doctoral research, as well as engage in some collaborative writing projects with colleagues from FIPP and other institutions,” she said. “I plan to support my colleagues to pursue their educational aspirations and plan to continue to help my son fulfill his commitment to his own education.”
Michelle Wetherington
Michelle Wetherington, originally from Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2019 and graduated this December with her master’s degree in special education and her autism spectrum disorders graduate certificate.
“I'm extremely proud to have received this award,” said Wetherington. “I'm the youngest in my family and the first one in my immediate family to attend graduate school. Being selected as an inductee into the Cratis D. Williams Society of Outstanding Graduates really solidifies how hard I worked to achieve this degree.”
Wetherington was introduced to the field of education through a job shadow assignment in high school. “I applied to Appalachian because I knew it was a good teaching college, and I liked the idea of living in the mountains,” she said.
“I wanted to pursue a graduate degree to give myself as many career opportunities in the education field as possible,” said Wetherington. “My undergraduate degree was in elementary education, but as I learned about differentiating lessons and inclusion I was really drawn to special education. I added a special education minor to my undergraduate degree, and then when I had the opportunity to apply to the accelerated admissions program for special education, I just knew that I had to do it.”
After graduation Wetherington will continue in her current role as the Assistant Learning Specialist in Academic Services for Student Athletes. “Working full-time while attending school full-time was challenging, but it was fun being able to relate to my students,” she noted. “I think it helped me build connections because they knew I was still in college and going through the same midterm season and finals week they were going through too.”
Jacob Wilson
Jacob Wilson, originally from Kings Mountain, North Carolina, completed his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and his master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and graduated this December with his educational specialist’s degree in educational administration.
“Being recognized by other professionals for my level of work an leadership potential is such an honor,” said Wilson. “No leader does what they do for the recognition but when you find out that your efforts are recognized, it feels great!”
Wilson chose Appalachian for two reasons: “First, I've been able to work with some outstanding professionals who also received training from Appalachian, and I have been so impressed by their work and professionalism. Secondly, as a school principal and father of three children, I needed a school with online options.”
After receiving his master’s degree in educational leadership and working the past five years as a school administrator, Wilson knew he wanted to continue to expand his impact on staff and students. “Earning my Ed.S. was a terrific avenue to do just that,” he noted. “My ultimate goal is to serve others through my leadership.”
Wilson plans to continue his education at Appalachian, enrolling in the doctoral program for fall 2020.
Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies
