Kara Maurice '19 received the 2018-19 Distinguished Adult Learner award.
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Carthage’s Kara Maurice ’19, a double major in elementary education and cross-categorical special education, was named the 2018-19 Distinguished Adult Learner.

The Distinguished Adult Learner Award is given to a graduating senior in the 7-week or part-time semester program with a 3.6 cumulative GPA or above. The student must have earned at least 40 graded credits at Carthage, as well as at least 75 percent of their Carthage credits through the Adult Undergraduate Studies program.

Kara began the Adult Undergraduate Studies program at Carthage in February of 2015 as a business major but quickly changed to elementary education as her true calling began to show. She has worked at an area charter school as an intervention specialist for the last three years, which taught her about connecting with students and helping them grow in their academics.

To quote from her faculty references, “Adult students have many additional responsibilities in their lives than our traditional undergraduate students and this is certainly true for Kara. Yet through several years of challenging times, she maintained a high level of professionalism and excelled in her coursework. Throughout the coursework, Kara demonstrated an empathetic, perceptive, and dedicated response to the issues, demands, and skills of being a teacher. She consistently presented a student-centered approach to problem-solving situations. She impressed me with her ability to ask the right questions about a student’s needs, as well as a willingness to seek out the best possible solution. As a future member of the teaching profession, she will be an excellent student advocate and problem-solver.”

When she is not working or going to school, Kara loves spending all her free time with her family. She has a fiance, Kyle, and two small children, Noelle and Lincoln, who are her whole world. Congratulations, Kara!