Dodge City teacher earns master's degree from Newman

    Newman University celebrated the graduation of the class of 2008 with the spring commencement exercises May 10 at Central Community Church in Wichita. This year, 349 candidates for graduation participated in the commencement ceremony, including some students scheduled to complete their degree requirements in the summer semester.
    The event included 27 candidates for associate's degrees, 154 candidates for bachelor's degrees and 168 candidates for master's degrees.
    Among the graduates was Dodge City resident Sara Smith, who has been a third-grade teacher at Northwest Elementary School for the past two years. She earned a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on English as a Second Language.
    Smith has 17 years of experience as a special-education paraprofessional in the Dodge City school system and earned her associate's degree from Dodge City Community College.
    As part of the commencement, three graduates were selected to read to those attending their “reflections” of their time at Newman University and of their experience. Smith was one of the three selected.
    Smith said she began an incredible journey six years ago, when she set out to earn an associate's degree. She later decided she was not satisfied with an associate's degree and began work on a bachelor's degree, then chose to pursue a master's degree.
    "During the next two years, I followed the lead of my special tour guide as He has revealed Himself more and more through an extraordinary team of classmates who helped me past the potholes in the road," she said. "I have finally figured out that I never was in control of this trip. My part was to take each step as directed and trust evermore in my divine tour guide. This journey to a master's degree has really been a journey to know myself and to learn to trust the Master."    
    Newman University is a Catholic university named for John Henry Cardinal Newman and founded by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for the purpose of empowering graduates to transform society. Newman meets the needs of traditional freshmen, returning adults, and graduate students through more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs.