WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., May 8, 2017 — West Liberty University has long been known for its excellent College of Education and since 2008, it has offered a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) degree for educators interested in advancing their careers.

MAEd students gathered at the Highlands Center for capstone presenations, from left (front), Kelsey Winland, Angela Powell, Jane Rose, Amanda Francis, Taghreed Alghamdi and Jennifer Jones, (back) Jason Pennybacker, Scott Rose, Todd Poe and Tim Triveri.

To complete this degree, graduate students must create a capstone project that is evidence of their academic work and provides students with experience in identifying existing research and designing their own research project.

“I congratulate each of our graduate students on their hard work, perseverance, and success! And offer best wishes to them on where their new degree leads them in their future,” said Dr. Leann DiAndreth-Elkins, associate professor and coordinator of the MAEd Program.

Last week, the MAEd students presented their capstone projects in both poster format and an oral presentation. The presentation took place at WLU’s Highlands Center campus.

Graduate student, hometown and topic of presentation include:

• Taghreed Alghamdi, Saudi Arabia, is a fulltime student. His capstone looked at Sharing Foster Care Children Information Records: Problem and Solution.
• Amanda Francis, Moundsville, is a laboratory instructing assistant at WLU. She spoke on Student Perceptions On Learning Science Laboratories Online Versus Face To Face.
• Jennifer Jones, Wheeling, is a substitute teacher for Ohio County and Marshall County schools. She spoke on Transitioning from Secondary Education to Post-Secondary Life.
• Jason Pennybacker, Wheeling, is a landscaper. His work was entitled, Why Shop Class is needed in Secondary Education.
• Todd Poe, Neffs, Ohio, is an intervention specialist for 9-12 grades in Cambridge City Schools. His project was Difficulties in Collaboration.
• Angela Powell, Follansbee, is an elementary music teacher for Brooke County. She presented on: Educational Leadership: Teachers’ Perceptions of Their Role as Educational Leaders.
• Jane Rose, Wheeling, is director of the childcare food program at Catholic Charities WV. She studied, The Personal Impact of Participation in a Child and Adult Care Food Program on Family Child Care Providers in West Virginia.
• Scott Rose, Wheeling, is sales administrator for BearCom Communications. He studied Instructor Comfort Levels When Using Technology in the Classroom.
• Tim Triveri, Wheeling, is a history teacher at Wheeling Park High School. His topic was School Preparedness for Suicide Prevention: The Need for an On-Site Mental Health Professional in West Virginia Public Schools.
• Kelsey Winland, Lewisville, Ohio, is a kindergarten teacher at Barnesville Elementary School. Her project was, The Comparison of Pre-Kindergarten Experiences and Kindergarten Readiness.

WLU’s Spring Commencement takes place at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 13 at the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC) when graduate students will receive their degrees from university President Dr. Stephen Greiner.

West Liberty University offers a 36 credit hour course of study leading to a Master of Arts in Education degree, which can be completed in 12 – 24 months. This program is open to graduate-level students who wish to advance their professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in eight different areas of emphasis: Advanced Teaching, Advanced Special Education, Multi-Categorical Special Education, Reading Specialist, Sports Leadership and Coaching, Technology Integration, Community Education Research and Leadership, and Leadership Studies. For complete information, please visit westlibety.edu/maed.

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