College of Education Student of the Month

This award recognizes students who are knowledgeable, ethical, caring and good decision makers as demonstrated through leadership abilities, academic success, and a commitment to promoting the education through their involvement in the College of Education, the University, and/or the community.

Robin Whitten
February 2012

As a military spouse and mother of four children, ages eight through seventeen, Robin Whitten excells in academics, while juggling her many responsibilities which include extensive involvement in her children’s schools and active support for other military families. As a non-traditional student who attended several colleges, she became determined to finish her degree at K-State once she knew her family would be stable long enough for her to complete it. With the achievement of this goal, Robin not only hopes to gain personal satisfaction but also to serve as an example for her own children.

As a student Robin shares her knowledge and resources with her instructors and peers during discussions and projects at K-State. In Educational Psychology, Robin wrote a paper about teaching military children that interested her instructor, Jessica Lane. They are now collaborating on a presentation for the Kansas Counseling Association Convention in Spring 2012.

Robin is also a member of Pinnacle Honor Society. As an officer for the Kansas National Educators Association (Student Program) and Robin used her position to share her experiences with fellow students. She facilitated a meeting linking local military families, soldiers, and the Fort Riley School Liaison to the K- State students. Participants discussed the deployment cycle and how military lifestyle impacts the lives of military children. The Director of Organizational Development and KNEA Student Program State Consultant observed this presentation and has since written about her story for the December KNEA monthly publication, “Issues.”

Robin is also committed to volunteerism with organizations like Boy Scouts, the COE Telefund, local school book fairs and classrooms projects, and for the Fort Riley family readiness group that supports military families and soldiers. The College of Education Council is pleased to recognize Robin Whitten as February Student of the Month and we wish her every success as she finishes her degree.

Education Council is pleased to recognize Josh Oldenettel as a valuable part of the College of Education and the teaching profession.