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Human Ecology: Featured Students
Dawn Jason, 2009 Human Ecology Featured Student

Dawn Jason - Family and Child Studies

Concentrations - Child Life and Applied Child Development

About Me
Hi!  My name is Dawn Jason and I am a Junior Family and Child Studies Major.  I have great parents and four wonderful siblings.  Dylan is a freshman at Tech with me, and my three sisters are back home in Port Allen, Louisiana.  I am involved in several campus orgainzations including the Association of Catholic Tech Students, Bulldogs for Life, Child Life Student Association, Collegiate 4-H, Kappa Omicron Nu, and Gamma Beta Phi.

Why I chose Tech and FCS
With my high school 4-H club, I helped start a hospital program working with pediatric patients.  There I saw what an impact Child Life Specialists have on the children during their hospitalizations.  This hands-on experience with child life inspired me to pursue this career goal, and, after researching the degree, I found LA Tech to have the closest and most promising program.  A National Merit Scholarship sealed the deal for me to attend Louisiana Tech.  Last year, I added a double concentration in Applied Child Development to increase my understanding of the population with which I will be working.

Supportive Faculty
The faculty at Loiuisiana Tech and specifically in the School of Human Ecology has been very supportive.  Not only do they help me in my course work, but they also support my extracurricular travels.  Just this year, I have traveled to Georgia and Texas for Child Life experiences and Washington, D.C. for Pro-Life and National 4-H programs.  My teachers encourage me to take advantage of the opportunities I am given and to represent LA Tech while I am away.  I am expecially grateful to my advisor, Mrs. Anita Pumphrey, who has been supportive from the time I made my first campus visit.  I have been with her on child life trips and she has helped me decide on a study abroad program.  But mostly, she puts up with my constant questions.

Favorite Quote
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  Margaret Mead


FCS Featured Student - Ashley Wedderburn

Ashley Wedderburn - Family and Child Studies
Concentration - Child Life

About Me
Hi!  My name is Ashley Wedderburn and I am a senior Family and Child Studies major with a concentration in Child Life.  I was born and raised in Spring, Texas (right outside of Houston), but recently moved to Austin, Texas.  I have two amazing parents, Steve and Anthonett, who mean the world to me.  I have a younger brother named Stephen and an older sister named Andrea, both of which are my best friends.  I also have two wonderful little nephews who have my heart.  I am a proud member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Louisiana Tech Tennis Team, St. Jude - Up Till Dawn, and Child Life Student Association.

Why I Chose Louisiana Tech and Child Life
I came to Louisiana Tech because I was offered a full tennis scholarship.  Before arriving at Tech, I thought I wanted to be a Sports Psychologist.  However, my sophomore year of college my sister was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer.  My roommate, Michelle Bell, is also a child life major and she told me about the Child Life program.  I instantly knew that this was the right program for me.  The loss of my sister to sarcoma cancer has driven me to dedicate my life to providing the highest possible care to children and families who are facing a broad range of challenging experiences.  My sister is my motivation.

Faculty Mentor
I have been very blessed to have such amazing professors and I definitely wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for each and every one of them.  However, I am going to have to brag about Mrs. Pumphrey because she is truly the most caring and genuine person that I have ever met in my life.  She is so passionate about Child Life and she inspires me each day to achieve greater and bigger things.  She not only inspires me, but you can see that she inspires all of her students and she believes in them.  She truly gives her heart to each of her students and I am so blessed to have her as a leader in my field and as my mentor.

Quote
"Kindness can change the world."



FCSEd Featured Student-AnneMarieLindsey

Anne-Marie Lindsey - Family and Consumer Sciences Education

About Me

My name is Anne-Marie Lindsey and I am a Family and Consumer Sciences Education major with a secondary teaching area in English.  I am the Vice-President of the Louisiana Tech chapter of the Louisiana Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and a member of the Human Ecology Liaison Team.  I have an adorable two-year old son, Jacob, who keeps me on my toes at all times!  The combination of full-time mother and full-time student is often challenging, though it is thoroughly rewarding.

Why Tech?
I previously attended the University of North Texas and after some time off from school, it was a natural choice for me to come home to Louisiana Tech.  Both of my parents, Randy Lindsey and Melanie Woodard McGee, are Tech alumni, along with a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins....I simply could not disappoint them by earning a degree at any other school!  My mother worked at the university for many years before we moved to Texas and I was always involved in activities around campus - my time as a ball girl for the Lady Techsters was the most exciting.

Why Family and Consumer Sciences Education?
I simply cannot think of a more rewarding career and I believe that everyone should take advantage of what family and consumer sciences has to offer; fundamental skills for life!  Upon graduation in November of 2009, I will be certified to teach grades six through twelve; and I also plan to pursue a Master's in the field.

Mentors
I am so fortunate to have had wonderful instructors throughout my experience at Tech.  I feel it would take forever to name them all, but I will say that in Human Ecology, Dr. Lori Myers and Dr. Kathleen Heiden have been both instrumental and inspirational in helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I must mention Mr. Randy Moore and Dr. Don Schillinger in Education, for without their wisdom and knowledge I feel I would know very little about teaching.  Finally, I am forever indebted to Mrs. Michelle Jimmerson for the invaluable skills that I learned in her technical writing and advanced grammar courses.



FCSEd Featured Student Smith

Miranda Smith - Family and Consumer Sciences Education

About Me
My name is Miranda Smith.  I am currently a senior majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences Education with a secondary teaching focus in Library Science.  I plan to graduate in the summer of 2009 and use my knowledge and skills to teach in a secondary school or to work in Cooperative Extension.  I come from a large family and gained an even larger family when I married my husband Brandon.  We have been married for 3 years and are enjoying our last years at Tech.

Why Tech?
I originally wanted to come to Tech the first time I visited the campus during a summer basketball camp when I was in the ninth grade.  Unfortunately, after I graduated from high school, I was only able to attend another state univeristy for my freshman and sophomore years.  At the end of my freshman year, I got married.  After debating a couple of semesters, my husband decided he wanted to major in Agriculture Education.  So we started the long process to transfer to Louisiana Tech.  I was very nervous at first, and a little reluctant to leave my comfort zone.  That quickly changed when I started my first class here at Tech.  I then remembered all of the reasons why I had wanted to attend Tech in the first place.  The classes were challenging and fun.  The faculty and students were very friendly and passionate about their endeavors.  I feel that Tech is the place for me!  Although it took a while to get here, I am very glad that I chose Louisiana Tech to finish out my college education.


MCS Featured Student - Mallory Guin

Mallory Guin - Merchandising and Consumer Studies

About Me
I am a senior Merchandising and Consumer Studies major.  I grew up in Haughton, Louisiana.  I have two parents that mean more than anything to me, Rodney and Tracy, and a beautiful little sister who hopefully will be attending Louisiana Tech in the next couple of years.  Over the past four years, I have been very involved in campus organizations.  I am the President of the Louisiana Tech Student Recruiters, Vice President of the Tech chapter of the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA), and also a member of the Union Board.  Getting involved on campus has been a major part of my college experience.

Why I Chose Louisiana Tech and Merchandising
I decided to come to Louisiana Tech in the spring of my senior year in high school.  I always thought I wanted to go to a very large school but changed my mind at the last minute.  It was one of the best decisions that I could have made.  That spring I decided to come for a campus visit and try to visit a Merchandising class because that was what I was interested in.  When I came to visit I learned so much in one class and it was everything I thought it would be.  I have learned to love the Merchandising program at Tech and am so thankful that I have had wonderful teachers to help me develop intellectually, creatively, and personally.

What I like most about Merchandising and Consumer Studies
The thing that I have come to love the most about the MCS major is the closeness I share with my professors and classmates.  Going on numerous trips with the same classmates has brought us all closer together and has helped us get to know one another.  Our professors are usually right there beside us helping us learn and showing us the things that we need to know.  I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to visit Dallas twice and even travel to New York City with a merchandising group and learn about fashion and culture in other parts of our country.

MCS Featured Student - Amy Hill 

Amy D. Hill - Merchandising and Consumer Studies
About Me
I am a junior in Merchandising and Consumer Studies with a concentration in Merchandising.  In May of 2010, I will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree.  As a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, I currently serve as Vice President of Standards.  I am actively involved with the Student Advancement Team, the Human Ecology Liaison Team, Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society, and the Tech chapter of the International Textile and Apparel Association.

Why Tech
I chose to attend Louisiana Tech for many reasons, but my main reason was the reputation of the Merchandising and Consumer Studies program.  I love the small town feel of Ruston and it is close to my hometown of Castor, Louisiana.  The faculty, students, and people in Ruston are very welcoming and friendly.

Why Merchandising
In high school, I knew I wanted to be a buyer for a major company.  There was no doubt that Merchandising was the field for me.  I wanted to learn about production, design and the business side of retail.  What I like most about the MCS program at Tech is that the classes incorporate many hands-on projects which really help students to apply their knowledge.  We are always actively engaged whether we are designing on computers or going on field study trips.  As a result, we are able to get real-world experience.  I love clothes and how they express your moods and feelings.  I believe I was born to be a Merchandising student!


Featured Student Jennifer Guin 

Jennifer McBroom Guin, RD, LDN - Nutrition and Dietetics (MS Program)

About Me
Greetings to all!  My name is Jennifer McBroom Guin and I am a graduate student from the friendly city of Minden, Louisiana.  I come from a small family full of love that consists of my wonderful husband Philip Guin and a dog named Yogi.  My extended family consists of two very supportive parents; Alvin and Reita McBroom.  I am their only child.  Currently, I am a clinical dietitian at Northern Louisiana Medical Center, Ruston, Louisiana.  I enjoy serving all customers that I come in contact with, but my patient floors I currently provide care to include pediatrics, skilled-nursing, and progressive care.  This facility caught my attention with their commitment to customer service and heavy involvement in community service activities.  Therefore, I am truly blessed to be a part of the family at Northern Louisiana Medical Center.

Why Tech?
I chose to attend graduate school at Tech because of its outstanding school-wide academic reputation, research commitment, and community service involvement.  The faculty and staff at the School of Human Ecology are always available to listen to students' concerns and provide solutions to help a student succeed in an ever-changing environment.

Mentors
First of all, all my professors and instructors at this school have given me the tools to become a successful professional.  All of my fellow colleagues as well have also taught me valuable lessons on how to succeed as a professional.  Thank you all!  I have two people at Tech that have strongly impacted the way I practice in this profession:  Dr. Janet F. Pope and Dr. Mary W. Murimi.  Dr. Pope has taught me by example how to lead and manage effectively.  She has taught me how to stay competitive in this profession and survive.  The amount of time she has committed to me inside and outside the classroom has made a tremendous impact in the successes I have accomplished thus far.  Dr. Murimi has taught me by example how to listen effectively, gain trust, and empathize with the populations that I serve.  My love for research and this profession was ignited by both these professors and I am truly grateful to benefit from their expertise and commitment to service.

Goals
As a proud student at Louisiana Tech, my educational goals to obtain my master's degree are almost completed.  However, learning is a lifelong practice.  I will continue to keep up-to-date on pertinent issues related to the profession and its mission/vision/values.  My goal will be to continue the work of ensuring that all individuals have equal opportunities to obtain optimum nutrition, health, and well-being and recognize the dietitian as a trustworthy food and nutrition expert.

Quote
"People never care how much you know until they know how much you care."  - John C. Maxwell



Jessica Hood 

Jessica Murphy Hood - Nutrition and Dietetics

About Me
My name is Jessica Murphy Hood and I am from Simsboro, Louisiana.  I am a senior nutrition and dietetics major and will graduate in May of 2009.  I recently got married on December 20, 2008, to the most amazing man in the world.  Jonathan, my husband, is a high school math teacher and head baseball coach at Simsboro High School.  I have amazing parents who have motivated me to be all that I am today.  I am a member of the Student Dietetic Association and Kappa Omicron Nu.  I enjoy reading, running, watching baseball, cooking, and attending mission trips with my church.

Why Tech?
Choosing Tech was a very easy decision.  I spent a lot of time on Tech campus while I was growing up because my mother works in the purchasing department in Keeny Hall.  I knew Tech would be a perfect fit for me, because I was comfortable with the campus, and it was close to home.  Although I was an undecided major entering college, I had no doubt that I would find my fit at Tech.

Why Dietetics?
In the fall of my sophomore year, I decided to enroll in a basic nutrition class, FNU 203, just for fun.  I had been praying for over a year for God to guide me to the profession that He wanted me to pursue.  Two weeks into the basic nutrition class, I was hooked!  I have enjoyed this major from the day I entered the program.  The faculty is amazing, and they truly have made my experience at Tech worthwhile.  It's challenging yet very rewarding, and I look forward to working in the Dietetics profession after completing the Dietetic Internship program.

Favorite Quote
Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. - Mother Teresa



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