Bollinger ’20 Earns National Education Honor

Sept. 6, 2019

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Senior secondary education and mathematics major Madeline Bollinger ’20 (Libertyville, Illinois) has been selected from a national pool of candidates to receive the Linda and Vincent McGrath Scholarship for undergraduate students of education from Kappa Delta Pi, honor society in education.

“Being awarded this scholarship, to me, means that my professors at IWU and the board of KDP truly see my potential as an educator,” Bollinger said. “I believe my responsibility as a student teacher and future teacher is to create knowledgeable, respectful, and open-minded young people, and this scholarship is a stepping stone in empowering me to do so.”

Kappa Delta Pi’s scholarship program awarded a total of $31,450 this year to 29 individual recipients nation-wide. The application process took into account academic success, involvement in Kappa Delta Pi and a written essay. Awardees were chosen by a review committee.

“I’d also like to specifically thank (assistant professor of educational studies) Maggie Evans for all she has done for me the last four years, including writing my letter of recommendation for this application,” Bollinger added.

Kappa Delta Pi was founded in 1911 and currently has more than 650 active chapters and 40,000 active members. The organization seeks to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching.

Bollinger is also involved with the Illinois Wesleyan swimming and diving team as a three-year letter-winner and senior captain. She is student teaching this semester at Normal Community High School in Normal, Illinois.

Ben and Susan Rhodes Endowed Professor in Peace and Justice and Chair of Educational Studies Irv Epstein said, “She is an outstanding student who I expect will not only be a wonderful teacher, but an important educational leader in the years to come.”

By Samira Kassem ’21