story by Claire Miller
When she came to Georgia State University, Zoe Thornton knew she wanted to choose a program that would allow her to make a positive impact in the world.
Her own schooling experiences and her passion for making education accessible for all students led her to the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education’s bachelor’s program in elementary education with a concentration in special education.
“I really struggled in math for a while in elementary school, and I had so many teachers who made a difference and who inspired me to become a teacher,” she said. “I have also been very passionate about fighting for people who have disabilities.”
Thornton was recognized for her academic success at the College of Education & Human Development’s annual Honors Day Ceremony on April 22.
She is the 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate in Elementary and Special Education Award, given in recognition of outstanding leadership and service to the educational community in the bachelor of science in education program in elementary education with a concentration in special education.
“This award means a lot – especially knowing that I have done well in something I care a lot about,” Thornton said. “I’m truly happy that I’ve had the opportunity to study both general education and special education at Georgia State.”
For more information about this year’s Honors Day recipients, click here.