闪耀的星星

十大菠菜台子 is made up of students, faculty and 工作人员 who all play a key part in the success of the university. Each year, OU recognizes these individuals/groups as “shining stars.” Not only do they play a vital role in the transformative process of higher education, but they shine a light on what 奥克兰 has achieved and what it aspires to become.

In 2023, the 自闭症研究中心, Kennedi罗宾逊 (student), and Dr. 罗伯塔意图 (工作人员) were each named an 十大菠菜台子 Shining Star.

Kennedi罗宾逊
After Kennedi罗宾逊’s first year at Rochester College, she learned about the new elementary education program offered by the School of Education and Human Services. It was then that she officially transferred to 十大菠菜台子.

Since then, Robinson has been extremely involved in the community. Not only has she held internships with Kensington Church children's programs, but she has also worked at the School-Age Child Care (SACC) programs at Romeo Community Schools. She maintains a high GPA while balancing her field work, 学术要求, and work in the local schools.

Robinson is currently in her Junior year at OU and will begin student teaching in winter 2024. She is a shining example of student success.

罗伯塔意图
Dr. 罗伯塔意图 is the Director of Advising within the School of Education and Human Services (SEHS). 在她的角色中, she works with a team of individuals who have elevated advising in SEHS to be student-centered, 专注于成功, and of tremendous value to the School. Rea was nominated for the Shining Star award by multiple members of the SEHS Executive Committee, including Dean Jon Margerum-Leys.

“Dr. 罗伯塔意图 is an indispensable leader within the School of Education and Human Services,玛格丽特-莱伊说. “[She] has been instrumental in developing and implementing the undergraduate advising model in SEHS. 反过来, SEHS advising has played a crucial role in the School's continuing excellence in retention and time to graduation. She is perceptive, analytical, visionary, caring, and deeply deserving of this recognition.”

自闭症研究中心
The 十大菠菜台子 自闭症研究中心 (OUCA) has recently received a $385,000 grant from United Way of SE Michigan. Since its inception over 15 years ago, the OUCA has had a reputation of providing excellent, high quality autism programs. 十大菠菜台子 has become a hub in 奥克兰 County for youth with ASD to come for programming. The OUCA employs highly-trained, 专家教师, 工作人员, and OU students in the area of ASD to maintain their high-quality programs.

The OUCA aspires to be the leading autism center in the state of Michigan. It currently serves roughly 2,300 people impacted by autism annually, but with the support of the recent grant, plans to increase that number to 3,000.  The grant will also allow the center to train additional OU students in the areas of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and help them gain experience working with people on the spectrum.

In order to meet these aspirations, the center will:

• offer new after-school ABA therapy to help improve self-help, 独立, and social-emotional skills in a 1-on-1 environment
• increase out of school recreational program opportunities to learn social, 沟通, 情绪调节, and emotional understanding skills
• expand summer camps to increase the center’s capacity to offer daytime summer activities to youth with ASD to learn critical social-emotional skills and retain academic skills over the summer

The increased services made possible by this grant will allow individuals with autism to develop critical skills to meet their fullest potential and positively impact their quality of life. Students engaged in these programs are inspired to be engaged in academic coursework, which positively impacts the school’s enrollment and leads to well-trained autism professionals in the community.