2008 Woodie Awards
Teacher complete Ph.D. after eight years
Issue date: 4/12/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Kathryn Fox
Staff Writer
Becky Thompson completed her last assignment towards her Ph.D. in English Education on March 15.
Four years ago, North Greenville University welcomed Thompson to their faculty family. For the last eight years, Thompson has spent her summers working on her Ph.D. at Bob Jones University.
Thompson accomplished her last assignment, the final oral evaluation. "I don't recall ever being so nervous," said Thompson.
Thompson said the presentation went well. The committee asked her questions for an hour. "There was a difficult statistic question, but I survived it," said Thompson. After waiting for a few minutes for the committee to deliberate Thompson re-entered the room for her wonderful news.
"Seeing them all stand and then hearing my committee chair [Dr. Jacobs] say I want to be the first to call you Dr. Thompson floored me," said Thompson.
Now Thompson's final task is to march on her graduation day, May 6.
"It's important for me to finish my degree, I want to be better prepared in the classroom," said Thompson.
Thompson taught at Northland College in Ashland, Wis. for eight years. The opportunity to teach opened at NGU and she expresses her confidence in knowing that that was where she was supposed to be.
"I'm not saying it was an out of body experience or anything," Thompson said, with a laugh, "I just knew."
Thompson has always wanted to be a teacher. "I always wanted to be in a place where I felt like I was making a difference," said Thompson.
"She's extremely fun," said Sarah Alexander, sophomore elementary education. "Even though she's a fun teacher, she's also structured and organized and I like that."
Spend a little while with Thompson and it won't take long to realize what the students mean by fun and unique. Thompson's office is full of books, pictures, crafts and dolls. The dolls are the American Literature authors that she teaches. They are called "brainy beanies" and they will individually come with her to class. "It's another way to make it interesting, instead of just lecturing on them… they remember it," said Thompson.
"I'm teaching people to be better communicators; I'm teaching them how to relate to the people around them," said Thompson. "This is my ministry; this is what I do."
Staff Writer
Becky Thompson completed her last assignment towards her Ph.D. in English Education on March 15.
Four years ago, North Greenville University welcomed Thompson to their faculty family. For the last eight years, Thompson has spent her summers working on her Ph.D. at Bob Jones University.
Thompson accomplished her last assignment, the final oral evaluation. "I don't recall ever being so nervous," said Thompson.
Thompson said the presentation went well. The committee asked her questions for an hour. "There was a difficult statistic question, but I survived it," said Thompson. After waiting for a few minutes for the committee to deliberate Thompson re-entered the room for her wonderful news.
"Seeing them all stand and then hearing my committee chair [Dr. Jacobs] say I want to be the first to call you Dr. Thompson floored me," said Thompson.
Now Thompson's final task is to march on her graduation day, May 6.
"It's important for me to finish my degree, I want to be better prepared in the classroom," said Thompson.
Thompson taught at Northland College in Ashland, Wis. for eight years. The opportunity to teach opened at NGU and she expresses her confidence in knowing that that was where she was supposed to be.
"I'm not saying it was an out of body experience or anything," Thompson said, with a laugh, "I just knew."
Thompson has always wanted to be a teacher. "I always wanted to be in a place where I felt like I was making a difference," said Thompson.
"She's extremely fun," said Sarah Alexander, sophomore elementary education. "Even though she's a fun teacher, she's also structured and organized and I like that."
Spend a little while with Thompson and it won't take long to realize what the students mean by fun and unique. Thompson's office is full of books, pictures, crafts and dolls. The dolls are the American Literature authors that she teaches. They are called "brainy beanies" and they will individually come with her to class. "It's another way to make it interesting, instead of just lecturing on them… they remember it," said Thompson.
"I'm teaching people to be better communicators; I'm teaching them how to relate to the people around them," said Thompson. "This is my ministry; this is what I do."