Service and Awards: Meet the Kinnaman Scholarship Winners!

Jack Kinnaman taught for nearly 30 years and was a long-standing NEA member and leader—including serving as vice president of NEA-Retired. After his death, in 2002, NEA-Retired established the Jack Kinnaman Memorial Scholarship to support future educators. For two decades, NEA-Retired members have generously contributed to the fund. Congratulations to these accomplished members of NEA’s Aspiring Educators (AE), who each received a $3,500 scholarship!

Anesha Ward

Primary education major, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio

“I’m committed to working toward growing the teacher pipeline, encouraging students who desire to teach, and finding ways to support minority Aspiring Educators,” says Ward who has served as the Ohio Education Association (OEA)-AE minority member at-large and on the OEA Human and Civil Rights Subcommittee.

As founder and president of the Capital Student Education Association, Ward is passionate about providing resources for future educators. Her wish for her teaching career? “To use my voice to bring love and change to the classroom,” she says.

Ashley McCreedy

Elementary education major, University of Massachusetts Lowell

As vice president of the Student Education Association of Massachusetts, McCreedy empowers other members by organizing study sessions, informing them about professional development workshops, and providing community service opportunities. In 2023, she started her practicum for elementary education and moderate disabilities, which is also unpaid.

“Receiving the Jack Kinnaman Scholarship will allow me to work harder on my studies and relieve some of the financial burden that comes with earning a degree,” McCreedy says.

Briana Hale

Middle school social science major, Florida State University, Tallahassee

As treasurer of FSU’s Student Florida Education Association chapter, Hale says she has developed invaluable leadership skills. Among other responsibilities, she organizes fundraisers, social events, and supply drives at a local elementary school. The most important part of these events, she says, is that they create “bonding moments with members and [the chance to] work alongside our community.”

The Kinnaman scholarship, Hale adds, will help her continue her studies and receive her master’s degree in social science.

Elena Sloboda

Elementary education major, Arizona State University, Tempe

Sloboda established the first AE campus chapter at Arizona State University and has paved the way for a statewide chapter. She is an active member of the Arizona Education Association’s Racial and Social Justice Committee, and she has coordinated with other AE members across the country to advocate for paid student teaching.

Along with other students from her state, Sloboda has met with representatives at the state capitol to raise awareness of the need for paid student teaching.

“I was able to speak with our governor about the issues aspiring educators face,” she says.

Hannah StClair

Elementary education major, University of Oregon, Eugene

“My involvement in NEA is the cornerstone of my undergraduate experience and will continue into my graduate studies,” StClair says. She became the University of Oregon’s first official chapter president, advocated for AE members to attend the state delegate assembly, and proposed a new business item (NBI) at the NEA Representative Assembly that aimed to increase AE membership. The NBI passed! StClair has even served as an Aspiring Educator member of the NEA Board of Directors, speaking up for the need for more student teachers, educational funding, and other issues.