Future educators honored at UK College of Education pinning ceremony
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 22, 2026) — Dozens of University of Kentucky students accepted into the College of Education’s Teacher Education Program were celebrated in April during a convocation and pinning ceremony.
Each student received a pin symbolizing their commitment to the teaching profession and the difference they hope to make in classrooms and communities.
“This was the first convocation and pinning ceremony for our college, and we established this new tradition to honor the importance of the profession and celebrate students as they reach this milestone on their journey to become educators,” said UK College of Education Dean Nick Pace, Ed.D. “It’s a reminder that it all starts with a teacher – every pilot, police officer, farmer, and surgeon first learned from someone who chose to teach."
During the ceremony, guests in attendance heard remarks from Pace, as well as Robert DiPaola, M.D., UK provost and co-executive vice president for health affairs; Meredith Brewer, Ph.D., associate commissioner of education, Kentucky Department of Education; Margaret Rintamaa, Ed.D., associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Education; and Adriana Conde, UK College of Education alum and Fayette County middle school teacher.
Each speaker focused on the importance of preparing future educators and the impact teachers have in classrooms and communities across Kentucky.
"Be the inspiration for those bright minds in your classrooms, because it is now your turn to carry the torch on to the next generation of students,” DiPaola said to the students. "It is now your turn to answer the call — to be an educator and a champion for all students."
Brewer also encouraged students to recognize the impact they will have as educators.
“We are excited to have you join us in what is, in my opinion, one of the finest professions in the world,” Brewer told the students. “Being a successful teacher isn’t about the perfect classroom set-up or a flawlessly executed lesson. It is about connecting with your students and fostering a lifelong love of learning. Students across the Commonwealth will benefit from your passion, enthusiasm and expertise."
Before being admitted to the Teacher Education Program, aspiring teachers build a strong academic foundation through pre-requisite coursework and gain early teaching exposure. To apply to the program, students must meet several requirements set by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, including a minimum 2.75 GPA, passing scores on tests such as PRAXIS Core and/or the ACT, letters of recommendation and a review of professional and ethical standards.
Once admitted, students begin upper-level professional education coursework and hands-on field experiences that prepare them for the classroom. The final stage includes student teaching, passing required PRAXIS exams and applying for certification.
The convocation and pinning ceremony will take place annually to celebrate students’ acceptance into the Teacher Education Program and to formally welcome them into the teaching profession.
Students admitted into the Teacher Education Program include:
Kentucky
Anthony Florimonte, Alexandria
Emma Van Horn, Ashland
Alaina Walton, Bardstown
Abbi Coulter, Bardstown
Sofia Martin, Bowling Green
Abby Smith, Bowling Green
Hunter Williams, Cecilia
Paige Cullison, Crestwood
Mary Clark, Crestwood
Emily Watkins, Crestwood
DeForest Adams, Cynthiana
Alex McCray, Deane
Rhiannon Snow, Dry Ridge
Lexi Engelman, Edgewood
Meredith Maschinot, Edgewood
Faith Gonzales, Elizabethtown
Rylee Krysinski, Elizabethtown
Hannah Martin, Elizabethtown
April King, Fisherville
Faith Collins, Fisherville
Anna Quinn, Florence
Katie Thurnauer, Fort Thomas
Henry Hoffmann, Frankfort
Emily Tackett, Georgetown
Reagan Prather, Georgetown
Heather Wilhoite, Georgetown
Maddie Held, Glasgow
Nevaeh Hammond, Glencoe
Carsen Moreland, Harned
Hunter Loyall, Harrodsburg
Alexis Noble, Hazard
Laurel Frazier, Hebron
Maggie Privette, Henderson
Emma Davis, Independence
Gracie Covington, Independence
Olivia Westerkamp, Independence
Brooklyn Johnson, Kevil
Micah Maggard, Lawrenceburg
Allyson Russell, Lebanon
Chelsey Johnson, Lexington
Ben Anderson, Lexington
Pamela Hollan, Lexington
Cole Privette, Lexington
William Mann, Lexington
Benjamin Dame, Lexington
AudreyBelle Childers, Lexington
Makiah Hollis, Lexington
Katie Brown, Lexington
America Eldridge, Lexington
JJ Confides, III, Lexington
Sergio Torres, Lexington
Patrick Wyen, Lexington
Michael Marcum, Lexington
Evan McTush, Lexington
Katie Kilian, Lexington
Annalize Johnson, Lexington
Mason Bowling, Lexington
Hannah Cook , Lexington
Emma Johnson, Lexington
Xavier Harmon, Lexington
Charlie Vowels, Lexington
Caroline Schweighardt, Lexington
Andrew Blues, Lexington
Cheyanne Stewart, Lexington
Nicolas Russell, Lexington
Gabriella Delia, Lexington
Allison Cassell, Lexington
Addison Cremeans, Lexington
Devon Vinopal, Lexington
Aubrey Young, Lexington
Katherine Zimmerman, Lexington
Macie Wiley, Lexington
Van Frye, I, Lexington
Megan Klose, Lexington
Scarlet Evans-Boyle, Lexington
Madeline Stewart, Lexington
Jorrni Hill, Lexington
Cassidy Wolff , Lexington
Cole Shanks, Lexington
Lexi Felts, Lexington
Lauren Towery, Lexington
Hailee Russell, Lexington
Ellie Nash, Lexington
Morgan Ward, Lexington
Emma White, Lexington
Madelyn Justice, Lexington
River Delacey, Lexington
Emily Baber, Lexington
Leoaxy Valerio Garcia, Lexington
Tractor Starrett, Lexington
Ruth Blanchard, Lexington
Owen Skentzos, Lexington
Mason Couch, Lexington
Kayla Maupin, Lexington
Zachary Johnson, Lexington
Hannah Burgess, Liberty
Ethan Todd, Livermore
Tiffany Greer, London
Mia Finaldi, Louisville
Kendall Chapman, Louisville
Eliza Lewis, Louisville
Maggie Hinkebein, Louisville
Kate Thompson, Louisville
Izzy Dearner, Louisville
Lilly Cronen, Louisville
Wendy Roberts, Louisville
Karlee Lacy, Louisville
Natalie Jones, Louisville
Audrey Beth Brown, Louisville
Haley Dile, Magnolia
Lilly Hibbs, Morganfield
Sydney Hughes, Mount Washington
Hailey Curry, New Haven
Rose Frederick, Nicholasville
Annabella Pandelli, Nicholasville
Ashley Reeves, Nicholasville
Caden Watts, Nicholasville
Avery Pearcy, Nicholasville
Kaitlyn Vieu, Nicholasville
Kaylee Morton, Nicholasville
Kaydee Morgan, Nicholasville
Talon Rayburn, Olive Hill
Carley Durcholz, Owensboro
Ava Reeves, Owensboro
Maddie Jones, Owensboro
Shelby Wright, Owensboro
Caitlyn Farrell , Paducah
Rachel Lowe, Paducah
Isaiah Winter, Paris
Kyla Soard, Paris
Loren Pel, Paris
Josie Clevinger, Pikeville
Elle Johns, Pikeville
Carter Justice, Pikeville
Nay Byrd, Radcliff
Gracie Tremba, Richmond
Tiffany Thomas, Richmond
Lucas Schaub, Richmond
Taylor Heath, Russell
Bethany Thompson, Russellville
Reese Johnson, Salvisa
Sophi Isaacs, Smithfield
Baylee Collingsworth, Somerset
Ambree Johnson, Somerset
Macy Conley, Staffordsville
Madelyn Price, Union
Morgan Hill, Union
Grace Blundy, Union
Emma Henson, Versailles
Juan Ayala Martinez, Versailles
Sam Dowdell, Versailles
Emma Mulvihill, Versailles
Emma Wheeler, Vine Grove
Erin Cox, Waddy
Payton Louden, Walton
Breanna Louden, Walton
Ariana Bailey, Whitesburg
Jolee Litz, Williamstown
Ella McCord, Winchester
Alabama
Avery Reidy, Tuscaloosa
California
Sadie Erwin, Corona
Taylor Dilbeck, Santa Barbara
Florida
Nevaeh Kiley, Tallahassee
Georgia
Hope Russell, Cumming
Hannah Benjamin, Cumming
Mary Braswell , Milton
Abby Zimlich, Rincon
Molly Carlton, Roswell
Illinois
Abby Pritchett, Algonquin
Meghan Retzler, Algonquin
Alicia Fuglewicz, Bensenville
Phoebe Sweeney, Bloomington
Melina Hormoz, Buffalo Grove
Logan Brennan, Downers Grove
Madison Weber, Frankfort
Lilli Theisen, Geneva
Emma McKeon, Grayslake
Leah Bertling, Lemont
Taylor Moss, Libertyville
Abi Young, Lockport
Samantha VanSwol, Mahomet
Meghan Taylor, Naperville
Abby Hatfield, Naperville
Emma Brazell, Naperville
Katie Kelleher, Naperville
Cailin Grubisic, Naperville
Alex Prochaska, New Lenox
Raegan Howaniec, Orland Park
Sarah Scornavacco, Wheaton
Caroline Stumpf, Woodstock
Indiana
Amanda Valenzuela, Carmel
Bella Merideth, Floyds Knobs
Addison Bradley, Huntingburg
Jake Curry, Jeffersonville
Carter Dilger, Sellersburg
Olivia Fowler, Seymour
Bri Naspinski, Zionsville
Massachusetts
Megan Smithers, Dracut
Sara Bernard, Natick
Michigan
Jaida Coller, Nunica
Kylie Rumberger, South Lyon
Missouri
Kate Bohlmann, Chesterfield
Allie Lytle, Chesterfield
Margaret McDaniel, Saint Louis
New Jersey
Andra Cooper, Mount Laurel
New York
Ally Frame, Ballston Lake
Rose Hohl, Bronx
Michaela Barry, Farmington
Kara Vecchio, Fredonia
Grace Burton, Lagrangeville
Michaila Maggiolo, Montgomery
Isabelle Czajkowski, Brecksville
Ohio
Emma Jones, Cincinnati
Piper Hensley , Cincinnati
Katelyn Ingland, Columbus
Michayla Hawkins, Delaware
Emily Wilson, Dublin
Addison Burke, Gallipolis
Gabrielle Burns, Hamilton
Rubie Johnson, Jamestown
Kalla Saineghi, Liberty Township
Lindsay Round, Loveland
Alex Deutsch, Maineville
Brynn Boylan, North Canton
Elianna Zimmer, Plain City
Aerin Wade, Powell
Ella North, Powell
Aiden Cornett , Springfield
Alivia Ritchie, Worthington
Pennsylvania
Lydia Wilson, McMurray
Addie Terzich, Seven Fields
Tennessee
Sarah Seaman, Franklin
Camren Pack, Gallatin
Amaria Martin-Mason, Hendersonville
Kori Robinson, Hendersonville
Emily Taylor, Mount Juliet
Annie Roark, Nashville
Kaelyn Chrapczynski, Nolensville
Isabella LeCea, Ooltewah
Texas
Isabelle Kennedy, Lancaster
Virginia
Emily Clark, Chantilly
Hailey Mowery, Leesburg
Lillian Gartland, Leesburg
Wisconsin
Katie York, Brookfield
International
Noel Houser, Melhbach