Education major receives KAPE scholarship

Samantha Langdon Bishop, a senior education major at University of the Cumberlands (UC), was recently awarded the 2018 Student Teacher Scholarship from the Kentucky Association of Professional Educators (KAPE).

Bishop is the is the daughter of Danny and Regina Bishop and the granddaughter of Ruby Hensley, the late Reese Hensley, and the late RG and Helen Bishop. She graduated with honors from South Laurel High School in 2014 and began coursework at the University of the Cumberlands in the fall of that year.

Bishop graduated on May 5, 2018 as a member of the J.T. Vallandingham Scholastic Honor Society (the highest academic honor a student can earn at UC), Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Kentucky Association of Professional Educators, Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society, and as the recipient of the Gorman Jones Leadership Award.

“Every aspect of who I am in the classroom is driven by the belief that each and every student is an individual, worthy of being known and valued.  I choose to teach because I believe that every child deserves an education, an advocate, and a sense of community,” said Bishop in her philosophy of education submitted to the KAPE scholarship board.

Bishop will have dual certification in math grades 5-9/social studies 5-12 and hopes to begin her teaching career in the Laurel County School District this fall. She is thankful for the incredible support she has received from the Kentucky Association of Professional Educators and is looking forward to the work that is ahead of her.

“There is nobody more deserving of this award than Samantha Bishop,” said Shannon Deaton, professor and Dean of the School of Education at UC. “Over the years, it has been an absolute privilege to watch Samantha grow into a capable, confident and gifted educator. Our department is tremendously proud of her many accomplishments.”

Each year KAPE awards $5,000.00 to high school seniors, their mentoring teachers, college students majoring in education, and KAPE professional teacher members who are furthering their professional development.  KAPE is a non-profit, non-political activism professional educational organization that promotes the interests of its members through providing information and legal coverage of $2 million to school administrators, teachers, para-educators, school support staff, and college education majors.

Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, University of the Cumberlands is an institution of regional distinction offering quality undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online degree programs. Learn more at ucumberlands.edu.