May 2019 commencement spotlights: Special Education

30 Apr 2019     By Kelcey Buck

Paul Anderson

Omaha, Nebraska  |  Special Education (7-12), Minors in Leadership and Entrepreneurship

What made Nebraska the right fit for you?
With being a Nebraska boy, UNL was always an option, but I had spent time visiting other schools. I ended up choosing Nebraska because it felt like home, I knew I would have many opportunities to pursue my many different interests, and I would be getting a quality and affordable education.

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in special education?
I chose to go into special education because my older brother has severe special needs. Working with people with special needs has always been a part of my life between my brother and all his friends. In high school, I had a couple opportunities to help in a special education room and during that time I decided that special education was what I wanted to do as a career. Being able to combine my two passions of special needs and helping people made becoming a special education teacher the perfect fit!

How were you able to balance your academic work with the demands of participating in the band at Nebraska?
There were times where it was a challenge to balance a steep academic workload with marching band. The key for me was to pick times designated to do band, school work, and then have fun. When we had one-week shows I had to spend more time with band, so I attempted to get more work done the week before to get ahead of my school work. One advantage of band to getting school work done is with being up at 7 every morning, I tended to have more productive days compared to the spring when I had the ability to sleep in each morning.

What advice would you give to a new student entering the special education program?
My first piece of advice is to find ways to get involved with the special education department. There are clubs that you can join, or there are research opportunities to work with professors that are extremely beneficial. Not only do you gain more knowledge in the subject, you will make great connections with professors. I worked on a multi-disciplinary team creating the educational scaffolding for a computer game teaching kids to read, and that was one of the greatest experiences I had in my college career. My other piece of advice would be to make friends with those in your cohort. They will be the ones that will help you when you have questions, or you can vent to them when you are frustrated in your practicums. They will become some of your best friends in college and you won’t be able to make it through without them!

What’s next after graduation?
After graduation I will be moving back to Omaha and starting a job at Millard North Middle School. I will be a special education resource teacher and the head wrestling coach. I’m excited to start my career and feel that my education at UNL has prepared me well for starting my job.

Sarah Gervais

Arlington Heights, Illinois  |  Special Education (7-12)

What made Nebraska the right fit for you?
The people here made Nebraska feel like home! I really appreciated the warm and welcoming atmosphere on and around campus, and knew if I was going to be far from home, I wanted to be surrounded by the midwestern kindness in Nebraska. 

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in special education?
I decided to pursue a degree in special education after volunteering at a day camp for adults with disabilities the summer after my freshman year. Here, I learned about the importance of life skills instruction, even into old age for individuals with disabilities. I also really enjoyed how the camp fostered a growth in sense of self and independence among individuals that tend to be underestimated and knew I wanted to help other individuals with disabilities become aware of and confident in their full potential.

How has participating in research opportunities helped prepare you for your future?
Dipping my toes into research during my undergraduate experience has eased the nerves I face going into a graduate program that emphasizes the understanding and use of evidence-based research. Presenting at the UCARE poster fair and completing an undergraduate thesis, most importantly, has developed my understanding for research procedures, improved my ability to write and present professionally, and taught me the value of mentorship from experienced graduate students and faculty.

What advice would you give to a new student entering the special education program?
For a new student entering the special education program, I would recommend being intentional and establishing good relationships with your classmates. You will get to know these people very well, rely on them during times of difficulty, and happy cry with them when you make it through student teaching. Make time to get dinner after class or study together because you're in it for the long haul with them! I will greatly miss my special education cohort next year, but am so excited to see them all start their careers as special educators.

What’s next after graduation?
I will be attending Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, to pursue my doctoral degree in occupational therapy. I chose to pursue a degree in special education as a transition into occupational therapy as I hope to become a school occupational therapist one day and intend on working with the special education population.

Amanda Hilton

West Chicago, Illinois  |  Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What made Nebraska the right fit for you?
Nebraska was the perfect school for me as it provided me the opportunity to play college soccer as a Husker along with the opportunity to enter a strong dual education program where I could major in both elementary education and special education. As soon as I stepped on campus, it just felt like home. Everything Nebraska has to offer is just incredible. I really valued the support the Nebraska community has for the University. There really is no place like it!

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in special education?
I have always enjoyed my amazing experiences I have had with special education kids. I have worked with a Special Olympics basketball team, served as a camp counselor for kids and adults with an intellectual disability, and coached a wheelchair soccer team. I have always had a passion for working with kids in special education, and I have always wanted to be able to advocate for them and to make sure they know they are capable of anything!

How were you able to balance your academic work with the demands of being a student-athlete?
I absolutely loved my experience as a Husker athlete! However, with all the enjoyable times came challenging ones. At times, it was tough to balance the high demands of soccer with my academic work and still find time to enjoy a social life... but it was possible! I really had to manage my time well and plan in advance when I was going to fit everything in, even if that meant doing homework on the airplane, bus, or at the hotel during away trips. Husker athletics provides tremendous support to student-athletes and my instructors were awesome as well. As an education major, it was really difficult to make my course schedule fit around my soccer schedule each semester. In order to finish all four years of soccer and give the attention I wanted to give to teaching, I had to delay my practicums and student teaching a year. In the end it was all worth it, as I successfully completed my two passions: soccer and teaching!

What advice would you give to a new student entering the special education program?
Enjoy every minute of the experience because it goes so fast! It will be tough at times and it requires a lot of work, but it is so worth it because in the end you will get to do what you love every day. Getting involved with the community and local schools is extremely helpful and rewarding. This special education program gives you so many skills and tools to take with you into your career so soak up everything you can!

What’s next after graduation?
Next school year, I will be teaching special education at Randolph Elementary School in Lincoln. I can't wait to be a Roadrunner and join an awesome team!