Distinguished Alumni nominees
alumna Feature
Former Teacher’s Debut Novel Unmasks Bullying
2013 Distinguished Alumni Nominees Sought
Kate Becker Walton ’91, lives by her motto – if you want it,
The Distinguished Alumni Awards have been presented by the West Chester University Alumni Association (WCUAA) since 1963. The WCUAA Awards Committee seeks candidates to be selected and recognized for this prestigious honor at the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon to be held April 27, 2013 during Alumni Weekend. The Committee is looking for potential recipients who have: • Achieved outstanding recognition in their chosen professions, • Rendered unusual service to a particular segment of society either vocationally or avocationally, • Achieved outstanding recognition or rendered unusual service by volunteering in a non-profit organization, or • Positively influenced large numbers of people throughout a career. If you are interested in submitting a nomination, complete and mail the form below or fill out a nomination form online at www.wcualumni.org. All forms must be submitted to the Alumni Relations Office by September 17, 2012. A nomination package will then be sent to those who are nominating alumni. All nominators and nominees must be available to present/accept their awards on the WCU campus on April 27, 2013.
U pcoming A lumni E vents ! Details, ticket prices and registration information are located at www.wcualumni.org. • August 18 – Rams at the Rudder, Rusty Rudder, Rehoboth Bch, DE, 4-8 p.m. • October 19-20 – Homecoming 2012 (including the Class of 1962 50th, the Class of 1957 Reunion & the Communication Alumni Reunion) • April 26-28 – Alumni Weekend 2013 *All dates are subject to change. Please check www.wcualumni.org for the latest updates.
2013 Distinguished Alumni Award Nomination
I n M emoriam
Please mail the form below to: WCUAA Awards Committee, c/o Alumni Relations, Veterans Memorial Alumni House, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383.
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Alumnus/Alumna ___________________________________________________ Class Year ______________________ Date of Birth ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Phone ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Email ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Nominated by ________________________________________________________ Class Year ______________________ Street Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Phone ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Email ______________________________________________________________________________________________ You may also submit your registration online by visiting www.wcualumni.org. All forms must be received by September 17, 2012.
24 West Chester University
Florence Gehman Smith Evangeline Golamis Whealton Mary Jane Taylor James B. Pugh Mary A. Curley Robert Rago Janet Huyett Grant Charles Ferron, Jesse Lewis Robert W. Johnson William G. Rapp, Jr. John A. Stralkowski Rose Karkosak Milardo Harold Kistler Norman McConnell Esther R. Cohen John M. Fry Marjorie H. Ruiz
Faculty/Faculty Emeriti Carol Belmain Glenn Samuelson
M arriages Tara McGuigan ’06 to Josh Klein on June 25, 2011
“I couldn’t stand watching any more television and I was really bored. make it happen. I complained to my good friend and former teaching partner. She sent As a self-described “dreamer,” Walton dreamed of becoming a me an email, which I still have, that read, ‘Write your book!’” That email teacher. She made that dream happen at WCU as an elementary educa- inspired Walton to make it happen. She decided to become a full-time tion major and as a language arts middle school teacher for 12 years in writer, and never looked back. Pennsylvania and Florida. “I started to write that day. The story flew out of me. It was like an out But, she had more dreams. Walton, also known by her pen name of body experience. I called my husband and said, ‘I’m writing a book!’” “K.M. Walton,” wanted to write a book. Kate and her husband, Todd Walton ‘89, met as undergraduates at Her Young Adult (YA) contemporary novel, West Chester while living at the former Sanderson Cracked, released by Simon Pulse – Simon & Hall dormitories. “The only way I made Schuster, debuted in early January 2012. “Cracked In addition to contemporary YA novels, was the fifth novel I wrote,” she explains, “and, after bullying stop was to make Walton also co-authored a book for teachers with more than two and one half years of trying to get lead author, Margie Pearse, entitled, TEACHING the bullies see that the an agent and 148 rejection letters, having it pub9 Critical Habits to Ignite Mathkid being bullied is a real NUMERACY: lished was truly a dream come true!” (She also ematical Thinking (Corwin Press, 2011). She also person. You have to get has a ghost story called Portal in the pipeline and found her “dream agency,” Curtis Brown, Ltd. of bullies to understand the another middle grade novel entitled, End of NorNew York City.) While the book’s fictional characters, “Bull” (the pain they are causing.” mal in the works. “That book is my baby because bully) and “Victor” (the bullied) aren’t based on it’s the first novel I ever wrote,” Walton says. The any of Walton’s real life students, she said her years — Kate Becker Walton novel tells the tale of a 12-year old girl who discovspent in the classroom were her inspiration to tell ers that she’s half alien. Bull’s and Victor’s stories. Cracked quickly made As Walton reflects on her success as an author Simon & Schuster’s “Must Reads” and “Top Ten” in its Teen List. Her and teacher, she offers some advice to others who would love to pursue next book, Empty, is scheduled for January 1, 2013 release. Empty also the same dream and make it happen. “You must do two things,” notes tackles the stark ramifications of online bullying, through its main Walton, “write your book and then carefully research literary agents and character, “Dell,” an overweight 16-year old girl. publishers. Everything you need can be found online these days!” “As a teacher, I heard and saw tons of bullying and cruelty, but I To learn more about Kate “K.M.” Walton’s books or follow her blog, never, ever let it slide,” she notes. She even encountered a fifth-grade visit www.kmwalton.com. student who attempted suicide after years of relentless bullying by fellow students. After promising the boy that she’d do something about it, she worked for months with the perpetrators to stop the destructive behavior. “Injustice drives me crazy,” says Walton, a mom of two adolescent sons. “The only way I made bullying stop was to make the bullies see that the kid being bullied is a real person. You have to get bullies to understand the pain they are causing. It takes a long time to get them to see that there’s a person on the other side. Girls are really difficult to break.” Since being published, Walton now speaks at middle and high schools on the topic of “The Power of Human Kindness.” Walton started her writing quest in the early 1990s, while student teaching second graders in Florida. She wrote three unpublished picture books and some short stories. “I got bit by the writing bug even back then,” recalls Walton, 44, of West Chester. After returning to Pennsylvania to teach at a Springfield, Delaware County middle school, Walton didn’t immediately pursue her dream of becoming a published author. “I wrote a lot as a language arts teacher for professional purposes and continued my path to writing through The Pennsylvania Writing & Literature Project (PAWLP) at West Chester but I never really wrote for fun while I was teaching.” That changed when Walton was homebound for three months with some medical problems.
Jeffrey Malczan ’93 to Laura Murphy on April 14, 2012 SUMMER 2 012
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