December 11, 2002

Sycamores honored for outstanding achievements
in education, web design

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The following Indiana State University faculty, alumni and students have recently been recognized for their outstanding achievements:

Ken Brist, principal at Valparaiso High School and an ISU alumnus, has been named Indiana Association of School Principals 2002 High School Principal of the Year.

"It's a real honor to be nominated by your peers for this award. I don't think anyone seriously thinks that anyone is more outstanding than anyone else. I have an opportunity to earn a state award and it's a real honor to be recognized," Brist told The Times of Northwest Indiana.

Brist received his bachelor's degree in biological sciences in 1966, master's degree in educational science in 1971 and doctorate in school administration in 1979.

Brist was nominated by Superintendent Michael Benway, among others. Benway is a former ISU Board of Trustees member and is also an ISU alumnus.

"Mr. Brist has created a school climate which is highly student oriented. Valparaiso High School is simply an exceptional place for students in terms of intellectual stimulation, social development and acceptance, student involvement in all facets of school life, and school spirit and pride. Mr. Brist has been largely responsible for these achievements," Benway wrote in his letter of support to the award selection committee.

Sharon Woolwine, an alumna of the educational and school psychology program at ISU and a psychologist in Evansville, has been given the Exemplary Practicing School Psychologist Award. This is an exceptional award for a school psychologist and Woolwine's name will now be forwarded to the National Association of School Psychologists in consideration for its annual award.

Jill Phipps, a third-year specialist student in the educational and school psychology program, was awarded the Stana Michael Scholarship.

Phipps is completing her internship in Indianapolis and has made many strong contributions to the field of school psychology through teaching, conference presentations, work with the Blumberg Center on the CPS-Indiana Grant and Presidency of the ISU Student Affiliates in School Psychology (student association).

A website developed for Blumberg Hall residents by five graduate students and Will Barratt from the department of counseling in the School of Education, was featured as the Website of the Month for November by StudentAffairs.com. The six members of the "e-res" team began developing the website, http://blumberghall.indstate.edu last summer. Students who worked on the website were Shaun Harkness, Andy Corn, Amber VanLue, Pam Costello and Rene Couture.

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ISU Public Affairs:
(812) 237-3773 or http://isunews.indstate.edu