From left, Alivia Webb, Kathy Schnurr, Gertie Andersen
FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The University of Saint Francis welcomed aspiring educators to campus on Friday, Nov. 14 for its annual Teacher Cadet Day.
The event brought together more than 100 students from area high school teacher cadet programs and dual-credit early childhood education courses for a day of interactive learning, hands-on experiences and networking with Saint Francis faculty and teacher candidates.
Graciela Miranda, the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year from Indianapolis Pike High School, inspired attendees with her keynote address. Guests also engaged in a Lesson Planning Challenge, where they showcased their creativity and instructional planning skills for a chance to earn a scholarship.
This year’s Teacher-to-Teacher Scholarships were awarded to Gertie Andersen of Bishop Luers High School and Alivia Webb of Carroll High School for outstanding lesson plans. Their innovative approaches and strong instructional designs stood out among the competitors. The Teacher-to-Teacher Scholarship is generously funded by Saint Francis alumna Kathy Schnurr, a dedicated educator and passionate advocate for the teaching profession. Throughout her career, Schnurr exemplified excellence in teaching, inspiring both students and colleagues alike.
Teachers attending as chaperones also benefited from the event by earning Professional Growth Plan (PGP) points.
Saint Francis is proud to support the next generation of educators and looks forward to continuing this tradition in the future. For more information about SF’s education programs, visit sf.edu or contact Dr. Juanita Oberley at joberley@sf.edu.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 21 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.