Two dozen 南瓜影院 students acknowledged their calling to become educators during an on-campus teacher signing ceremony Feb. 13.

Their statement of commitment and admission to 南瓜影院’s education program followed their completion of EDUC 212, a course focused on teaching in the United States, which includes a 30-hour clinical in a setting with a diverse student population.

Dr. Jean Sando, principal of Oak Grove Lutheran High School, one of 南瓜影院’s Designated School Partners, read a series of commitment statements, followed by Dr. Anne Walker, professor of education, announcing the names of the students to sign their statements.

The commitment statements included:

• I will strive to gain the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to become an effective and compassionate educator. 
• I will actively contribute to the success and well-being of my future students, fostering a love for learning and encouraging their development. 
• I will uphold the highest standards of ethical practice, preparing myself to make a positive and lasting impact in education. 

The students signing dedicated themselves “to the journey ahead and to the transformative role of teaching in shaping future generations.”

Those students included Truman Albano, Carly Comstock, Ephriam Cooper, Colin Ehnert, Ethan Eliason, Austin Fellman, Paige Gordon, Greta Gustafson, Abigail Hansen, Jacob Hansen, Jillian Jaros, Brooke Jennison, Natalie Johnson, Brianna Kelly, Lauren Lamp, Zeke Langemo, Katharine Lathe, Halle Mattern, Kia Nelson, Noah Nielsen, Ryan Nordhagen, Alysha Onwuneme, Jonah Overby, Justin Perkins, Adeline Polzin, Tabitha Poppe, Lydia Repnow, Justine Riewer, Elise Rogholt, Alexandra Runyan, Jadyn Rust, Sarah Schroeder, Lauren Sekely, Henry Skatvold, Annalise Skrade, Joseph Stoll, Reese Strube, Annika Svenningsen, Suvi Swenson, and Eden Weinhandl.

Dr. Sonja Wentling, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, provided inspirational remarks for the occasion, and education faculty members welcomed the new education majors with certificates and pens.

The event kicked off the 南瓜影院 education department’s annual vocation retreat, which this year focused on rural education. Lead speakers for the event were and Michelle Rinke Koch ’88/’97.

Maras, who has more than 20 years of teaching experience, is currently a business education teacher at Morris Area School District. She earned the Educator of Excellence Award from the Minnesota Rural Education Association in 2022 and was named National Rural Teacher of the Year in 2023.

Rinke Koch, principal of Menahga High School, is president of the Minnesota Rural Education Association Board of Directors. Her work as an educator includes teaching high school language arts, as well as teaching first and second grades and serving as a dean of students for kindergarten through 12th grade.

“We get to work together to make our profession stronger for our students, and that’s what it’s all about today,” Rinke Koch said.