Kathlene Shank cares about her students on a personal level, a junior special education major said.

Student Kelsey Myers described Shank, her adviser and department chair, as a person who makes the effort to go beyond the typical requirements of an adviser by going the extra mile to encourage and get to know her students.

“When I met her as a freshman, I was scared of her like a typical freshman,” Myers said. “She cares about her students and she makes the effort to know your name and get to know you on a personal level.”

Myers is not alone in her opinion as Shank was announced the Fall 2011 recipient of the Luis Clay Mendez Service Award presented by the Faculty Senate.

Shank said she believes service is a major part of her life and encouraging others to get involved is what makes life worth living.

“I serve because I want to make a difference in the lives of students as well as people with disabilities, not for personal gain,” Shank said. “A life of service is important, and we should all live and use our unique talents to make a difference and improve the lives of others.”

Shank said she credits a lot of service and inspiration to her students.

“All of what I do has to do with providing my students with integrative learning opportunities to work with people with disabilities,” Shank said. “The students get so much joy from it, and it is just my job to make sure they as future teachers will know what they are talking about and

doing.”

In her letter recommending Shank for the award, Melissa Jones-Bromenshenkel, a special education associate professor credits Shank for staying current in the field.

“Kathlene is well-known in the field for staying abreast of what is happening in education in general as particularly related to events/issues that significantly impact special education and the higher education programs preparing teachers to serve in that capacity,” Jones-Bromenshenkel said in the letter.

While Shank has received many other awards at varying levels, from her students, department and state to the national level, she said she feels like she is coming full circle by being recognized by the university.

“I’m very blessed to be recognized,” she said. “Other students and faculty in the department have just as much if not more, but do not receive the same recognition.”

The Faculty Senate began taking applications for the award in early October.

“Applicants are nominated or can self nominate, and we announced our decision at the Oct. 25 Faculty Senate meeting,” said Jeff Stowell, Faculty Senate Award Chair. “We regularly get 10 to 12 applicants, it just depends on the year.”

Around this time is when Shank, received notification of the award, which she will receive at her college’s graduation ceremony in December.

“I received a phone call from Jeff Stowell informing me I had won and would receive a letter, I didn’t even know I was nominated,” Shank said. “I was very, very pleasantly surprised, when I think of this award I think of it going to faculty, not an administrator, I was humbled. I do service and I am proud of it; I don’t expect awards for it.”

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]