Four Scholarship Awards (recognizing one graduate student from each of TWU's Four Colleges) to be presented at 16th Annual TWU Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon Honoring Norman Bagwell for his leadership in the community and his commitment to education
A teacher for 25 years with a long-term goal to make the world a better place, Lorraine Cadwallader is pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and development with an emphasis in clinical mental health counseling to become a licensed professional counselor. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA and will graduate this spring. On February 21, she will receive one of four prestigious scholarships given by Texas Woman’s University at the 16th Annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon, presented by Bank of Texas, Texas Woman’s University, and the Texas Woman’s University Foundation, at The Belo Mansion and Pavilion.
During her final semester of graduate school, she will continue to work at two sites for her internship: “The TWU Play Project” (providing play therapy to young elementary children in Denton ISD) and with alcoholics and addicts in an intensive outpatient program at CCD Counseling, PA, a private counseling agency in Denton.
Cadwallader received her bachelor’s degree in international studies from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, in 1983. During her sophomore year she spent a semester in Mexico – an experience that changed her world view and prompted her to design her own major with an emphasis in Latin America. She spent her senior year in Bogotá, Colombia, where she became fluent in Spanish. Cadwallader received her first master’s degree in education from TWU in 1990, graduating magna cum laude. Then she began a teaching career of 25 years focused on bilingual early childhood education in Dallas and Denton ISD.
“Enjoying meaningful work is something I learned from my parents and grandparents,” said Cadwallader. “My parents, both of whom are now retired college professors, provided me with a strong sense of personal ethical responsibility and the idea that ‘of course’ I would do something to make the world a better place. The most important part of my job as a teacher was creating strong relationships with my students and their families. From my first day in the classroom, I wished I had some counseling skills in order to be more effective. Making differences in people’s lives is crucial for me – not only improving individual lives, but also improving society at large, starting with the Denton community and expanding to Texas, the United States, and the world.”
Cadwallader comes from a long line of strong women and is the third generation of women in her family with professional careers. Her grandmother earned her PhD in chemistry in 1922, and her mother earned her PhD in philosophy in 1972.
“It was unusual for women to earn advanced degrees in those fields during that time,” she added. “I’m grateful TWU is facilitating my following in their footsteps.”
In addition to teaching, Cadwallader has also served as a staff development trainer for Denton ISD and on many campus and district committees. As a teacher mentor of students at UNT, she was invited to be a presenter at the Velma E. Schmidt Conference and is the author of an article published in two early childhood textbooks. Additionally, after writing nine successful grants for innovative teaching methods, she became Denton ISD’s top Denton Public School Foundation grant recipient. She has also been an active volunteer in the community, often utilizing her Spanish skills.
Cadwallader has been recognized by her peers three times: at Tomás Rivera Elementary as “Teacher of the Year” (2007), as the Denton ISD District “Elementary Teacher of the Year” (2008) and as “Bilingual Teacher of the Year” at Obadiah Knight Elementary in Dallas ISD (1992). She has also been the recipient of numerous scholarship awards beginning with her undergraduate years. She is a member of several professional organizations and Chi Sigma Iota, the counseling honor society, as well as Phi Kappa Phi.
Her journey has not been without challenges.
“As an older graduate student working on my second master’s degree in a second career, one of the obstacles I have had is learning how to balance the demands of graduate school with family, work, and volunteering in the community,” added Cadwallader. “I do believe that when my children see me work so hard and long, it must inspire them to believe that it is never too late to follow your dreams and make them a reality.”
“I am so honored to receive the Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholarship,” added Cadwallader. “It is allowing me to finish graduate school and pursue my career in counseling during an especially challenging time for my family as my husband is suffering from a critical illness.”
Cadwallader’s experiences at TWU have been very positive, as shehas found that TWU cares more about people than programs.
“My professors are not only extremely knowledgeable about the content they teach but also passionate about helping us to become the best counselors we can be,” added Cadwallader. “From secretaries to administrators, one experiences a ‘going the extra mile’ spirit. I am proud to be a part of a place where respect for diversity is highly valued.”
Cadwallader and her husband of 31 years (Sculptor Jerry Daniel) live in Denton. They have four children.
In addition to Cadwallader, graduate students from the remaining three TWU colleges will be honored at the luncheon as recipients of Virginia Chandler Dykes scholarship funds: Kaye C. Rubio, College of Health Sciences (Occupational Therapy); Dawn Murphy, College of Nursing; and Geethanjali Ravindranathan, College of Arts and Sciences.
In the past 15 years, more than $700,000 has been raised for scholarships from the proceeds of this luncheon. TWU’s 16th Annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon, on February 21 at the Belo Mansion and Pavilion, will honor Norman P. Bagwell, CEO of Bank of Texas and Executive Vice President of BOK Financial, as the 2018 recipient of the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award. Tickets are $175 for silver patron; $250 for gold patron. For more information, call 940-898-3872, visit www.twu.edu/vcd, or email TRupani@twu.edu.