BOONE, N.C.—Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences has named Judson MacDonald the Outstanding Student Teacher of the Year for the 2016-2017 school year.

MacDonald, who is from Cary, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish education from the department of languages, literatures and cultures in May 2017. He is currently pursuing a masters in Romance Languages as an accelerated admissions student.

This is the first year that the College of Arts and Sciences has given the award.

“Judson was detailed and thorough in his lesson planning and reflections. He created innovative and engaging lessons,” said Meredith Perez, who supervised MacDonald during the spring semester at Avery County High School. “He has a take-charge personality with outstanding leadership abilities in the classroom.”

MacDonald is a James Patterson Scholar at Appalachian. That scholarship is funded through the Patterson Family Foundation and is awarded based on financial need and the potential for recipients to become leaders in education.

Student teaching is the culmination of any education student’s undergraduate career,” MacDonald said. “The fierce, inspirational educators I have had in my life have brought me to the point in which I can teach with love, empathy and justice.”

MacDonald will go on to compete for the Appalachian State University Outstanding Student Teacher Award. The winner of the university-level award then goes on to represent the campus in the North Carolina Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (NC-ACTE) Student Teacher of the Year competition.

There were eight nominees competing for this year’s college award. They include Connar Kelley, English; Andrew Moffitt, Brenden Rawls and Jordan Canterbury, mathematical sciences; Courtney Stiles Lee, chemistry; Sarah Freeman, history, and Alana Patterson, biology.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 18,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

Judson MacDonald named Appalachian’s 2016-17 Outstanding Student Teacher of the Year

Sept. 14, 2017

MacDonald, who is the son of Jay and Teresa MacDonald, is originally from Cary. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Spanish education in May 2017. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in romance languages as an accelerated admissions student.

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