Spotlight On Warner Award Recipient and Graduate Student Kevin G. Sutton

Kevin G. Sutton is a Doctorate of Education student studying technology education in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (STEM Ed) Department. Recently, Kevin was awarded the 2016 Warner Graduate Research Award for Region 2 by Epsilon Pi Tau, a national technology honor society. 

After graduating from NC State University with a B.S. in technology education, Kevin completed his M.A.Ed. in curriculum and instruction and received a graduate certificate for Integrative STEM Education from Virginia Tech. In the fall of 2013, Kevin returned to NC State’s campus to receive his Ed.D. in Technology Education.

Read on to learn more about Kevin’s work and experiences at the College of Education.

Why did you choose to attend NC State for your Doctorate of Education?

There were several reasons that I returned to NC State to complete my doctoral program. First, the STEM Education department is one of the few that offers the degree that I was looking for and provided a chance for me to teach undergraduate courses.

There is also a flexibility at NC State that allows me to study and research my own topics that are supported and reviewed by the faculty. There were several schools that I looked at before choosing, but I could not find any university that better fit the experience that I was looking for.

What do you feel that College of Education’s doctoral programs have that other universities do not?

A large STEM Education department, flexibility to research multiple areas due to the depth of knowledge supported by the department, availability of grants and research projects to gain exposure and opportunities for teaching experience are just some of the things that make the College of Education’s doctoral programs unique.

What has been your number one experience in the doctoral program thus far?

There are many favorable experiences, but participating with the Technology and Engineering Educators Collegiate Association (TEECA) as they prepare, represent NC State, and take pride in their accomplishments at regional conferences has certainly been a highlight.

How have your experiences been working with the faculty?

The faculty within my program have pushed me beyond my coursework to be involved with research projects, publications, service, leadership opportunities and conference presentations. They have exposed me to what life looks like as people pursue careers in higher education.

What would you tell a student who is planning to apply to one of College of Education’s doctoral programs?

Before you begin, make sure that you want the degree and are willing to push yourself through to the finish line.

When you’re in the program, show up for more than is expected of you and intentionally choose your activities to be meaningful for your growth. This is another adventure in life that exponentially rewards the efforts you make.

The experiences that I’ve had at NC State have been a springboard that’s helped direct me towards what I love and would like to continue doing for a lifetime.

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