KSU Continuing Education Program Wins National Honors

Staff Report

KSU’s College of Continuing and Professional Education has been recognized by the University Professional & Continuing Education Association with two national awards.

Karen Smith, the College’s manager of strategic initiatives, won the Adelle F. Robertson Emerging Professional Continuing Educator Award. The award recognizes the leadership and contributions to the profession of an outstanding continuing professional educator who has entered the field within the past five to 10 years.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized for this award,” Smith said. “I love the continuing education environment and have a never ending passion for process improvement. The fact that I am allowed to work every day with this wonderful team of people who understand the mission and vision of our college is so rewarding.”

Moises Arroyo, ESL program graduate, claimed the Outstanding Continuing Education Student – Noncredit Award. It recognizes outstanding student achievement in professional and continuing education. A native of Mexico, Arroyo successfully completed all six levels of the College’s ESL Certificate program. His inspirational story was featured on the April-June 2014 issue of the Course Catalog quarterly magazine.

“I feel honored to receive this award,” Arroyo said. “When I started, I just wanted to learn. I never expected anything like this. I began knowing almost no English. Now my English has improved so much that I have a better job because of it. I can confidently communicate with my bosses and my friends.”

Smith and Arroyo both claimed UPCEA South regional awards in the same category last fall – which qualified them for the national honor. The awards will be distributed as part of UPCEA’s 100th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., March 30-April 1.