Honors Convocation

SAVE THE DATE

FRIDAY, April 19, 2013 at 3:30-5:30 PM
Harwood Arena

The Honors Convocation will proceed in the following manner. Honor students will assemble in the Harwood Arena parking lot no later than 3 p.m. (rain or shine) in the special areas designated by college. Family and guests should go directly inside the Arena to be seated.

During the Convocation, honor students will walk across the stage to receive a certificate cover from their college Dean and the President. To help announce each name, students should bring an index card with their name printed in large type (with phonetic pronunciation as needed). NOTE: certificates will be mailed at the end of the semester, contingent upon maintaining a GPA of 3.45 or higher.

Suggested Attire: business casual

Qualifications for graduating with honors:

A cumulative grade point average of 3.45 or better, who have completed a minimum of 45 semester hours at Kean by the end of the first semester of their senior year.

Summa Cum Laude: cumulative GPA of 3.85-4.00

Invitations have been sent via Kean email to those students who meet the above qualifications.

Keynote Speaker: Lauren Marrocco '03 '09

2012 New Jersey Teacher of the Year

Lauren Marrocco graduated from Kean University with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education in 2003 and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision in 2009. In 2009 she also received her National Board Certification in Reading and Language Arts Literacy. She began her teaching career at the Edward J. Patten Elementary School in Perth Amboy, N.J. She was selected to teach the first grade Sheltered English program and did so for seven years. This experience gave Ms. Marrocco the opportunity to receive training that enabled her to provide students with the support needed to learn and master the English language. In 2010, she began teaching 4th grade. Ms. Marrocco is dedicated to creating a safe, stable and caring learning community for her students. She sets high expectations for her students and even higher expectations for herself. She works hard to challenge and motivate her students towards success. Her instruction reaches students on multi-sensory intensity to ensure her students are actively engaged in their learning.  She shows consideration to the personal and learning differences of her students.

     Ms. Marrocco’s devotion to education is not limited to a six hour work day. Lauren chairs the School Leadership and Staff Development committee for E. J. Patten School and is a member of many other programs and initiatives on the school, district and university level. She has participated in the revision of several curriculums, piloted new series, and helped to create a district wide elementary lesson plan format based on standards based planning. She is also an Educational Leader for her district. Ms. Marrocco is always seeking to learn new and innovative teaching methods and practices to bring into her classroom. In January, Lauren was hired by Quantum Learning Network as a SuperCamp facilitator. In July, she received two weeks of intense training on effective teaching and facilitation strategies. These strategies are founded in brain based research and provided Lauren with even more techniques that maximize student engagement and learning. Throughout her ten year career, Lauren has and continues to personify compassion, dedication and enthusiasm towards Perth Amboy’s students and her teaching profession.