Jackson graduated from UCF in 2002 with a bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and completed her master’s degree specializing in Home-School, Community and Educational Leadership in 2003. She currently works as a first-grade teacher and grade-level chair at Dunwoody Springs Elementary School in Sandy Springs, Ga.

Jackson was selected along with 11 others out of 625 applicants from different states, grade levels and specializations. She is one of six teaching ambassador fellows that will remain in their classrooms and participate in the fellowship on a part-time basis. As part of the fellowship, she will have the opportunity to learn about and give input on national educational policy issues. She will also be instructing teachers on how to implement gifted strategies to challenge all learners in a general education setting and working on the RESPECT (Recognizing Educational Success, Professional Excellence, and Collaborative Teaching) Project.

“I aspire to obtain my Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies and I feel like the fellowship will prepare me for that experience,” Jackson said. “I also feel that it will improve my communication, networking and leadership skills.  The fellowship will also make me a greater advocate for students and the teaching profession.”

She described the application process for the fellowship as extensive and highly competitive. The requirements include six multiple-question essays, several letters of support and a lengthy general application. The selection committee looks for candidates who demonstrate exceptional leadership and communication skills, the ability to show initiative and a desire to learn and inform policy.

Jackson is also a four-time Teacher of the Year nominee and won the honor in 2012. She has served in several leadership capacities while conducting action research and teaching in classrooms.

“Oftentimes I speak about how I felt well-prepared for success due to my experience at UCF,” she said. “The caliber of professors and rigor during my teacher- preparation program was exceptional. I met my mentor, Laine Powell, when I was a Minority Programs in Education scholar and I am still in contact with some of my Early Childhood Education professors.  They shaped me into the teacher I am today.”   

UCF’s medal winners represent ten sports programs. The women’s rowing team led the way with six student-athletes, followed closely by the women’s soccer and softball teams with five each.

At least 32 Knights have earned medals during three of the last four years.

“Achieving a GPA of 3.75 or higher is a tremendous accomplishment for our student-athletes, who work hard in their classes while balancing the rigorous demands of their sports,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. “The fact that so many of our student-athletes have earned academic recognitions from Conference USA is a testament to their determination and the support of our dedicated faculty members, coaches and academic advisors.”

C-USA announced its academic honor roll (3.0 GPA or better) Tuesday, and 221 Knights were on the list. That total ranked second among all C-USA schools and first among the league’s public institutions.

UCF’s student-athletes have collectively achieved a GPA of at least 3.0 for each of the last eight semesters.

In October, UCF posted a program-best 83 percent Graduation Success Rate, which tied with the ����ֱ�� of Florida for the top rating among Florida’s public universities.

UCF’s academic medal winners are listed below in alphabetical order by sport:

Football: Jacob Bundy (Business Economics) and  (Social Science Education master’s program)

Men’s Golf: ��(���ܲ����Ա����-���Ի徱�Բ�)

Women’s Rowing: Jesse Baldwin (Communication Science and Disorders), (Finance), (Elementary Education with a Coaching minor), Kelsey McCreary (Cinema Studies), Beatriz Merino (Pre-Clinical Allied Health with a Spanish minor) and  (Sport and Exercise Science/Psychology)

Men’s Soccer: Augusto Braccialli (Civil Engineering), (Psychology), (Molecular and Microbiology) and ��(�ʲ��⳦��DZ��Dz���)

Women’s Soccer: (Biomedical Sciences), (Public Administration/Nonprofit Management), (Psychology), (Biology) and  (Communication Sciences and Disorders)

Softball: (Early Childhood Education), (Hospitality Management), (Elementary Education), (�����DZ��Dz���)�����Ի�  (Mathematics Education)

Men’s Tennis: (Finance-pending) and  (Interdisciplinary Studies with a Math minor)

Women’s Tennis:  (Communication Sciences and Disorders)

Track and Field: (Undeclared), (Athletic Training), (Elementary Education) and ��(�ʳ󾱱��Dz��DZ���)

Volleyball: (Marketing) and  (Molecular Biology and Microbology)

My particular area of interest is Early Childhood Education. The early grades are where children first learn about the public school system and where they have their first experience with adults outside the family. An Early Childhood Education teacher instills in their students two important lessons that are the foundation for success in school – learning is fun and adults are great resources of knowledge and support.

Rex Culp