The Virginia Scholars Award was presented to Bridgewater College senior Rachael Sloan during the annual awards convocation on May 6.
The award honors an outstanding woman at each of Virginia’s four-year colleges and universities who has demonstrated a potential for distinctive service in any field of education. Sloan was selected by the Bridgewater College education faculty based on classroom performance and field experience. The award includes the winner’s name added to a plaque in the Jessie Ball DuPont Center for Teacher Education at the college, a certificate and a book, The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong.
Sloan, a liberal studies major, is the daughter of Roger and Lynna Sloan of Roanoke, Va. She is a member of the Philomathes Society, Bridgewater’s academic honor society; Alpha Chi, a national scholastic honor society; and Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society. She is a member of the Flory Fellowship of Scholars, the college’s honors program. She serves as co-chair of the Honor Council.
In addition, five seniors were recognized as Teachers of Promise (TOP). The students exhibit a strong commitment to the teaching profession and demonstrate the traits necessary for an exemplary career in public education.
Recognized as a Teacher of Promise were:
- Beau Cassada, a health and physical education major, is the son of Eddie and Lori Cassada of Danville, Va.;
- Hannah M. Dove, a liberal studies major, is the daughter of Robert and Laura Sine-Dove of Winchester, Va.;
- Dawn Dulaney, a mathematics major, is the daughter of Don and Darlene Dulaney of Covington, Va.;
- Megan M. McAllister, a liberal studies major, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel H. McAllister of Staunton, Va.; and
- Claire E. Rosso, a mathematics major, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rosso Jr., of Finksburg, Md.
Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded in 1880, it was the state’s first private, coeducational college. Today, Bridgewater College is home to approximately 1,800 undergraduate students.