Megan Hurley Gilbert

University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio ’09

Major: Bachelor of Science in Special Education

Aurora University ’13

Major: Masters in Educational Leadership

American College of Education ’15

Major: Masters in Educational Technology

College Involvement: Best Buddies, President (national organization that works with individuals with disabilities); Special Olympics Volunteer.

Fondest memory of college: ”My entire senior year. I couldn’t imagine a more fitting year that summed up my entire college experience and truly portrayed why Dayton was the best place for me. Surrounded by my friends that became family over the course of four years, spending time giving back to the local Dayton community, getting prepared for the next step in the actual real-world, and making incredible memories with those around you any chance you could; I absolutely loved college and wouldn’t trade my time at Dayton for anything.”

Career: 2010 Wheaton North High School, Wheaton, IL.   Special Education teacher.

2011 to current: Downers Grove North High School, Downers Grove, IL.  Special Education teacher.

Community Volunteer Efforts: Working with high school students on building student leadership. Co-chair of DGN’s all-school charity fundraiser that is organized every year in the spring for a local charity of choice;  Coached the special Olympics basketball team my first year teaching at Wheaton North; and currently the freshman Girls’ Basketball team coach at Downers Gove North.  Board member of the Rob Koranda Scholarship Foundation. 

NNHS: See statement of reflection regarding the scholarship award.

“The  Rob Koranda Scholarship is a symbolism of what high school is all about and what is truly important in life. Giving back to those around you and realizing that the important things in life are not what you have, the money you make, or anything of material value but all about the relationships that you build with people, what you can give to others, and what you can learn from them. I take what I learned from high school, and the impact that the scholarship has had on my life, and try and share those lessons with the high school students that I teach today. Not every student that I have will walk away with a true understanding of these lessons, but it is still important to share with them and live this message every day.”