Watertown Graduate Madison Park Wins National Honors for Special Education Research

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Madison Park, a recent Watertown graduate and a distinguished Honors student at Northern State University (NSU), has earned national recognition for her academic work in education. Park secured second place in the pedagogy and education category of the student poster competition at the highly competitive National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) annual conference.

Park’s award-winning research project, titled “How Generations of Teacher Education Impact Special Education Inclusion,” investigates how generational differences in teacher education, alongside major social, technological, and policy shifts, influence modern inclusive practices in special education settings.

Park, who double-majored in Elementary and Special Education, views the topic as critical to the field. “Education is constantly evolving and changing, and I believe this research can benefit all students,” she said, adding that presenting the study allowed her to gain valuable input from professors and peers on how to improve her work. Park also credited the Honors program for instilling “perseverance and grit,” qualities she considers essential for educators.

Dr. Hannah Walters, associate professor of marketing and director of the NSU Honors Program, praised Park’s achievement. “Northern students continue to shine at the National Collegiate Honors Council annual conference, a highly competitive event. Madison’s research offers valuable insights that could shape future teacher training. This recognition highlights both her dedication and the importance of her findings,” Walters said.

Park completed her research under the guidance of Dr. Cheryl Wold, professor and graduate coordinator of M.S.Ed. in Special Education, who noted Park’s independence, stating, “I have offered Madison suggestions and resources, but she has done all the hard work.”

Park was one of several NSU Honors students who presented research at the conference, showcasing the program’s broad academic excellence. Other presenters covered topics ranging from domestic extremism to college counseling services and water analysis for heavy metal contamination.

Other presenters below:

·       Abiah George – “The Denial of ‘Homegrown Terrorism’: Bias, Rhetoric, and the Framing of Domestic Extremism.”

·       Avery Kautz – “Evolving Culture through Community Cookbooks: The Americanization of South Dakota.”

·       Chasity Lewis – “Breaking Barriers: Gender Stigma and Awareness in College Counseling Services”

·       Karli Klein – “Molecular Detection of Haemogregarina spp. from Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) Blood.”

·       Morgan Sheldon – “Testing Moccasin Creek Using ICP-OES Water Analysis for Heavy Metal Contamination.”

·       Stella Meier – “Rhetorical Shields: The Shaping of Qualified Immunity by the United States Supreme Court”