The Ball State University Foundation Top 100 Student Awards recognizes 100 outstanding junior and senior undergraduates at Ball State University who represent Beneficence both in and out of the classroom. We are thrilled to highlight the winners from Teachers College. Next up is Leah Meersman.

Major/Minor:

Elementary Education, Concentrations in Mathematics and Gifted & Talented

Projected Graduation Date:

May 2023

Hometown:

Milwaukee, WI

What made you choose Ball State?

I chose to attend an out-of-state college because I wanted a new experience after high school. I chose Ball State because I was looking for a school that would support me in my journey to become a teacher, and I knew Teachers College would do that. When I visited campus in the fall of my senior year of high school, I fell in love with Ball State’s physical campus and the feeling I had when I was here.

Are you involved with any campus organizations?

I am a resident assistant at DeHority Complex, so I work 20 hours/week for Ball State’s Housing and Residence Life. In this position, I build relationships with students and help foster a welcoming community to live in. I am also involved with the Future Educator’s Peer Mentoring Program as a mentor for freshman education majors. Finally, I am a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an honors society for those in education fields. These organizations have greatly impacted my collegiate experience!

What made you want to become an educator/teacher?

I was in fourth grade when I decided I wanted to become a teacher. My teacher at the time played a really influential role in that decision. She was enthusiastic about teaching and truly cared about all of her students, which made the biggest difference in how my classmates and I felt about coming to school. Since fourth grade, my goal has been to be a teacher who makes that same impact on children.

Do you have any plans for what you would like to do after you graduate?

I am not sure where I will move after graduation, but I am planning to teach outside of Indiana. My dream job is teaching kindergarten or first grade, and eventually I would like to work with high ability students from all elementary grades.

Do you have any hobbies? If so, what?

I would consider myself a bakery aficionado, so one of my favorite hobbies is to visit new places and try local bakeries. Since being at Ball State, I have traveled all around Indiana and tried bakeries in many different cities. I also love a good farmer’s market! Another hobby I have is traveling around the world. I have had the wonderful opportunity to travel with my family growing up, and I will continue pursuing that hobby as often as I can.

Fun fact about yourself:

I have been tutoring elementary-aged children for 4 years. I have worked with 6 different children in one-on-one settings during the academic year as well as over summers. Some of my favorite teaching moments have come from this experience.

Is there anything else you would like to add? Any fun projects you are working on? Favorite class/professor? Etc.

I am currently working on my honors thesis, which is a creative project that is currently titled, “Innovative Curriculum Design: Creating a Multidisciplinary Instructional Unit for High Ability Learners”. My advisor is Dr. Lisa Rubenstein. I was in two of her educational psychology courses, both of which were part of my Gifted & Talented concentration requirements. I thoroughly enjoyed being in her class, and I knew that she would be a great asset to my honors thesis.

Congratulations Leah!

Congratulations to all of the Teachers College Top 100 Students:

*Abbey Armstrong

Isabella Barounes

*Kathryn Burbrink

Jada Cooper

Nicole Diaz-Castillo

*Madison Groves

Stacia Hazlett

Mikayla Kirkling

*Lauren Langness

*Alexa Leisure

Kendra Loos

*Leah Meersman

Cole Miller

Sarah Owens

Erin Rossiter

*Isabella Watts

*Aubrey Wilson

*=Top 50