Alumni, students and administrators dedicated the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education’s renovated facilities Monday afternoon, recognizing the donors who enabled the overhaul of OU’s first college named after a woman.
President David Boren and College of Education Dean Joan Smith recognized the family of Jeannine Rainbolt and also Sandra O’Brien, major donors to the college and its renovation. O’Brien donated the 3,000-pound bell that hangs in the college’s new tower.
Boren said financial support from donors ensures the success of education improvements in an economic recession, and contributions from the Rainbolts, O’Briens and others enable the College of Education to achieve its main goal: teaching and training future educators.
“We are turning out people who will make a difference (in education),” he said.
The college’s namesake, Jeannine Rainbolt, is an ideal role model for future educators, elementary education senior Skyler Mulder said. Mulder is the College of Education’s outstanding senior. She has received the Jeannine T. Rainbolt Scholarship the past two years and plans to work in inner-city schools before pursuing a graduate degree in counseling or administration.
Jeannine Rainbolt, who died September 2007, was an elementary school teacher who worked in low-income schools. Her husband, Gene Rainbolt, remarked on Mulder’s goal to work in inner-city schools, an area of education in which his wife strove for equality.
“It’s more of an inspiration to what I can aspire to be,” Mulder said.
Jeannine’s husband, Gene Rainbolt, said Mulder’s goal to work in inner-city schools — an area of education in which his wife strove for equality — makes her the perfect person to receive the award.
Boren, who said teachers have affected his life most, said no other area of the university reaches as many lives as the education college.
“If you don’t have an equal opportunity for education, you don’t have an equal opportunity for life,” Boren said.
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bruenig 1 year, 5 months ago
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noonespecial 1 year, 5 months ago
Does anyone proofread these before they are published? Seriously...