Ellei Coleman
Major: Middle/Secondary Education and Mathematics
Hometown: Greenfield, Indiana
Butler’s Honors Program provides unique opportunities, fosters a sense of community, and helps to create lifelong learners. Meet Ellei, a Butler Honors student who has explored and developed her teaching style because of the Honors Program.
What has been the best part about being an Honors Student at Butler?
The best part about being an Honors student at Butler is having access to unique learning opportunities, both within and beyond my majors. By being in the Honors Program, I have had the opportunity to take two short-term study abroad trips: Paris, France, and Florence, Italy. Neither of these trips was explicitly related to my majors, but I love how I was able to make my own connections through these wonderful experiences. I also took one of my favorite courses through the Honors Program: Hidden Indy. During this class, we explored different locations in Indianapolis and learned historical and unknown facts about them. I loved the project-based and exploration style of this class and hope to create a similar classroom environment for my students. The opportunities through the Honors Program courses have helped me explore my interests and how I can apply them to my future career.
Which Honors Program faculty member has inspired you the most and why?
The Honors Program faculty member who has inspired me the most is Dr. Pangan. As an Education and Honors Program professor, her courses, experiences, and knowledge really stood out to me. During her Hidden Indy course, I started to consider how I could incorporate a similar project and exploration style into my lesson planning and classroom as I prepare to become a teacher. Her connections to Indianapolis history, education, and beyond, and how she brings those into the classroom, inspire me to see how I can bring similar opportunities and experiences into my future classroom.
What advice would you give someone who is considering joining Butler’s Honors Program?
Just go for it and say yes! Butler’s Honors Program offers many great opportunities and experiences, as well as a strong community of people on campus from the very beginning. I love how I’ve met new people through the Honors Program that I now see regularly. I lived in the Honors housing my first year, and I became friends with so many people before classes even started. Furthermore, the Honors Program offers unique class topics, trips, and discussions that allow an unmatched experience. The Honors Program makes learning fun and gives you the best memories and possibilities.
How has the community around you—faculty, staff, peers, or the Honors Program community specifically—helped you see your potential differently?
The entire Honors Program community has always supported and challenged me to see my full potential. The faculty work with you every step of the way to help you meet and exceed your goals through problem-solving and by pushing you to fulfill the experiences you desire during your time on campus. With this, I am more confident in myself than I was as a first-year. Since starting at Butler, I have traveled abroad twice, completed research, and can imagine myself as a teacher in a whole new light. The things I’ve accomplished and experienced through the Honors Program are so much greater than I ever thought they would be.
How has Butler helped prepare you for your future career or next steps?
Butler has prepared me for my future career as a teacher by providing me with endless hands-on experiential learning opportunities. As a Middle/Secondary Education major, I was in a classroom within my first month on campus, and my time in K–12 classrooms has continued to grow. I’ve had opportunities to learn and gain knowledge from preschool and high school classrooms in private, public, and charter schools. Through my courses, I have built, taught, and reflected on lessons since my second year, allowing me to practice my teaching style and see what methods work best for me. The classes outside the College of Education build upon my other interests and skills. With all my opportunities at Butler, I’ve gained diverse and extensive knowledge that will help me support future students in my classroom—no matter which subject or grade level I am teaching.
What’s the story that you tell friends or family when they ask what Butler is like?
When I tell my friends and family stories about Butler, I always emphasize the community. Even if I’ve had a professor just once during my first year or multiple times throughout my time as a student, they will always remember me, say hi, and check in. During the fall of my sophomore year, I took a self-defense class taught by BUPD officers, and two years later, one of those officers still remembered me and bought my lunch. Butler’s environment stands out because the faculty truly cheers you on and supports you every step of the way, all while helping you inside and outside the classroom.