School confers awards on 51 teacher education candidates at 2019 MAT Recognition Ceremony

(November 1, 2019) - The UCI School of Education Master of Arts in Teaching program recognized the accomplishments in academic achievement and community engagement of 51 outstanding teacher education candidates during the School’s annual MAT Awards Ceremony. 

The nine categories of awards to 51 candidates both represent the largest number in school history. The Promising Master of Arts in Teaching Award, the MAT Leadership Award, and the Santa Ana School District Residency Certificate were each awarded for the first time.

Virginia Panish, Director of Teacher Education

Richard Arum, Dean and Professor

"It is always an honor to get the opportunity to recognize the talented and committed pre-service teachers in our program," said Virginia Panish, Director of Teacher Education. "All of these future teachers have made sacrifices and life choices in order to fulfill their commitment to serving and improving the lives of young people. I have no doubt that they will continue to learn from their work with youth and eventually become leaders in their schools and communities." 

“We live in a challenging historic moment, and the work you do as teachers is a direct response to those challenges – through civic engagement and education, we provide a path forward,” Richard Arum, dean and professor of the UCI School of Education said to the MAT students in attendance. “You’re not only making a difference in people’s lives and in their learning, but also providing an example of how to live a life full of purpose.”
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Arum initiated the awards presentation by announcing recipients of the Dean’s Scholarship, which recognizes honorees for their academic achievement and commitment to developing their skills and knowledge as new teachers. 
Dean’s Scholarship Recipients

• Sean C. Beall, Single Subject candidate, Social Science
• Danielle Ilana Berton, Multiple Subject candidate
• Kara Janelle Kunert, Single Subject candidate, Mathematics
• Ryan Ban Ly, Multiple Subject Candidate

Susan Toma Berge, Multiple Subject Coordinator, presented the Laura E. Settle Scholarship, established to honor Laura E. Settle, founder of the California Retired Teachers Association. The award recognizes pre-service teachers with financial need and an exemplary character.
Laura E. Settle Scholarship Recipient

• Danielle Kataryna Cheung, Multiple Subject candidate

Mary Roosevelt presented the Mary Roosevelt Honor Scholarship in Teaching and Learning, awarded to MAT candidates exhibiting excellence in academic scholarship who have demonstrated dedication to improving the lives and educational opportunities of students and the skills and dispositions of leadership.
Mary Roosevelt Honor Scholarship Recipients

• Emily Eileen Cross, Multiple Subject candidate
• Jasmine Marie Dominguez, Multiple Subject candidate
• Susan Frieman, Single Subject candidate, English
• Aryn Cristine Mackenzie, Single Subject candidate, Social Studies
• Danielle Ashlyn Sawyer, Multiple Subject candidate
• Greg Shatsky, Single Subject candidate, English

Elizabeth van Es, Associate Dean, presented the Rudy Hanley Scholarships, granted to incoming students pursuing a master’s in teaching who demonstrate the highest level potential for future success in their academic endeavors and future career.
Rudy Hanley Scholarships Recipients

• Saeed Marandi, Single Subject candidate, Social Science
• Peyton Leigh Nunez, Multiple Subject candidate

Professor Carol Booth Olson presented the Owen Thomas Memorial Scholarship, which honors an outstanding UCI undergraduate in English committed to secondary English teaching.
Owen Thomas Memorial Scholarship Recipient

• Rachael Jeanne Heinsen, Single Subject candidate, English

Panish awarded the President’s Educator Fellowship, provided by the University of California Office of the President to support students with a demonstrated commitment to working in public schools that primarily serve students from low-income families.
President’s Educator Fellowship Recipients

• Nicholas Montano Fowler, Single Subject candidate, Social Studies
• Siouxsie Zulema Hernandez, Single Subject candidate, Social Studies
• Katie Key, Multiple Subject candidate
• Duy Le, Multiple Subject candidate
• Hoai Ngoc Nguyen, Multiple Subject candidate
• Namirah Said, Single Subject candidate, Mathematics

Acacia Warren, Single Subject Coordinator, presented the MAT Leadership Award, which honors a student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities.
MAT Leadership Award Recipient

• Reed Rowan Buck, Single Subject candidate, Science

Warren and Toma-Berge jointly presented the Promising Master of Arts in Teaching Award, provided through an Hispanic Serving Institution grant from the Department of Education to support students who demonstrate the potential to become inspirational teachers.
Promising Master of Arts in Teaching Award Recipients

• Edras Ernesto Castellon Vasquez, Single Subject candidate, Social Science
• David Jamero, Single Subject candidate, Science (Bio)
• Serwoo Lim, Single Subject candidate, Mathematics 
• Peter Phat Ly,  Single Subject candidate, Science (Bio)
• Patrick John Mccormic, Single Subject candidate, World Language
• MICHELLE MEZA, Single Subject candidate, Social Science
• Celia Jaqueline Monroy, Single Subject candidate, World Language 
• Sarah Tanase, Single Subject candidate, Science (Physics)
• Kylie Aster Tang, Single Subject candidate, Mathematics 
• Umbreen Unissa Ali, Multiple Subject candidate
• Leah Heather Barker, Multiple Subject
• Vannesa Marlene Diaz, Multiple Subject
• Lindsey Marie Farney, Multiple Subject
• Karina Joceline Guadalupe, Multiple Subject
• Olympia Martinez, Multiple Subject
• Jazmine Nava, Multiple Subject
• Anadelle Ramirez, Multiple Subject
• Brenda Ramos, Multiple Subject
• Simone Sophia Rogers, Multiple Subject
• Tasha Meaghan Tormey, Multiple Subject

Warren distributed certificates to the 10 candidates currently participating in the Santa Ana Unified School District Residency Program, a partnership between the district and UCI School of Education. Residents are recognized for their demonstrated commitment to developing the skills, knowledge and dispositions of exceptional science and mathematics teachers.
Santa Ana USD Residency Certificate Recipients

• Vivian Chau, Single Subject candidate, Mathematics 
• Kelsie Digrande, Single Subject candidate, Science (Biology)
• Katherine Dillon, Single Subject candidate, Mathematics
• Ragiah El Shantaly, Single Subject candidate, Science (Chemistry)
• Peter Phat Ly, Single Subject candidate, Science (Biology)
• Nahoko Naka, Single Subject candidate Mathematics
• Joseph Robert Schatzlein, Single Subject candidate, Science (Biology)
• Elizabeth Thida Sreng, Single Subject candidate, Mathematics
• Yuan, Joshua Qiheng, Single Subject candidate, Science (Physics)
• Zahn, Derek Tyler, Single Subject candidate, Mathematics

See photos from the MAT Awards Ceremony here.

See awardee bios here.