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Twins go from Ashland University to working together at Wilmington City Schools
Twins Elexis Wiederhold and Ciara McGee both played soccer, were cheerleaders, performed in show choir and participated in theater at Wilmington High School. They each attended Ashland University, where they were RAs, majored in early childhood education/early childhood intervention and belonged to the same sorority, The Well and FCA. And now they work together as preschool intervention specialists at East End Elementary School in the Wilmington City Schools…
Ashland University grad named interim superintendent for Westerville City Schools
Angela Hamberg fell in love with the Ashland University campus when she attended Buckeye Girls State there the summer after her junior year of high school. She also was so impressed with the university’s education program while she was looking at colleges as a Mount Gilead High School student that she decided AU was the place for her, not only for a bachelor’s degree in 1998, but also a master’s degree in educational administration in 2002. “I loved the…
Ashland University graduate releases her latest children's book
As the eldest of 11 siblings, Andrea Carter embarked on a groundbreaking path as the first in her family to attend college. The challenges of earning a bachelor's degree seemed daunting, and pursuing a master's felt almost impossible, she said. However, driven by determination and supported by Ashland University's inclusive atmosphere, she achieved her academic goals, graduating with a Master of Science in Educational Leadership in 2005. Not stopping there…
AU grad Vicki King-Maple named director of Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association
Vicki King-Maple, though a communications professional, has a hard time putting into words the love she has for Ashland University. “It’s a second home; it’s family,” said King-Maple, a “triple-crown” Ashland University alumna, having received her bachelor’s (speech and public communication, 1995), master’s (education in curriculum and instruction, 2000) and doctorate (educational leadership and leadership studies, 2019) degrees from AU. “As a student, I…
With help from Ashland University, Paul Jackson becomes a first-year school administrator
Ashland University has played a big part throughout Paul Jackson’s life. He met his wife at AU, was named a middle school principal after earning a master’s degree from the university and is now using his graduate-schooling knowledge toward a Ph.D. “In high school I attended a summer program for gifted young people,” Jackson said. “The beautiful campus, fascinating courses and stimulating conversations led by AU faculty left a strong impression on me as a…
AU grad becomes superintendent in community with a special place in her heart
Twice, Jennifer Allerding’s son, Kaden, has been diagnosed with cancer, and both times the Loudonville-Perrysville community has rallied around her family. “I made the commitment that if I ever had the opportunity to make a difference in the community, I would,” said Allerding, who is the new superintendent for Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools. “The desire to move to L-P provides me the opportunity to give back to a community that gave so much…
Teacher of AU natural history field classes inducted into the ODNR Hall of Fame
When Paul E. Knoop Jr. and his wife, Cathy, moved to Hocking County in 1997 they started teaching natural history field classes to teachers and naturalists for Ashland University. “Paul is the expert and has the knowledge, and I take that and show teachers how to use it in classrooms,” said Cathy, a retired elementary science teacher. “All our classes are teamwork.” That was one of the many things that led to Paul’s induction into the Ohio Department of…
AU grad named a 2023 Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year
Tricia (Molden) Phelps has never forgotten how much Ashland University has helped her teaching career. “It gave me the foundation to start my career, and I’m still teaching, and I love everything about teaching,” said Phelps, who graduated from AU in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in education. “I am still a proud Eagle.” That “foundation” has led to a 25-year career as a health and physical education teacher at Licking Valley High School in Newark, Ohio,…
Master's degrees and more - Ashland University a big part of the Nickoli/Miller family
When it was announced in April that Ashland University had been recognized as a 2023-24 Best Graduate School for education by U.S. News & World Report, AJ Nickoli didn’t waste any time commenting about it on social media. “Whole Nickoli family went to grad school here,” the AU assistant football coach wrote on the university’s Twitter post about the recognition. “This is LEGIT!!” “My mom, dad, grandpa and uncle all got their master’s at AU,” Nickoli…
AU graduate courses help longtime educator have a varied career, including his new director of administrative services job
Even though Geoff Halsey said he’s about five years away from retirement, the longtime educator plans to earn a doctorate degree before he retires. That’s because he said he loves learning and being in school settings. Some of the best of the many graduate courses the 52-year-old said he has taken throughout his education career were through Ashland University, where he earned his building principal license, as well as a master’s equivalency in educational…
