Master's student awarded Owen Thomas Memorial Scholarship

Rachael Heinsen - passionate, driven, compassionate - is a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) candidate earning her single subject teaching credential in English.

Heinsen was awarded the 2019 Owen Thomas Memorial Scholarship at the School of Education Awards Ceremony on December 11.

Owen Thomas Memorial Scholarships, honoring Dr. Owen Thomas, a professor in Linguistics, Education, and English at UC Irvine from 1975-1990, honor scholars in English who are committed to secondary English teaching.

"As an English teacher, I am excited to help my students strengthen their voices and advocate for themselves after they’ve left the K-12 educational system," Heinsen said. "I’m determined to expose my students to a diverse range of experiences through literature, encouraging them to build their critical thinking skills." 

"Understanding that my students are complex individuals with a wealth of knowledge, I hope to support each of them to reach their academic potential. Receiving this award will alleviate the financial burden of graduate school and help me to pursue my education so I can help students pursue theirs!"