Outstanding alumna awarded

Claire Smith

Features Editor

csmith110@murraystate.edu

Jennifer Stubblefield grew up to become a teacher in one of the classrooms she was taught in.

Stubblefield graduated from Murray State in 1992 and has been a teacher at Calloway County High School for the last 27 years.

In October she was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Service Award from the College of Education and Human Services.

Stubblefield was humbled when she received the award.

“This is an award that usually goes to Ph.D.s and professor emeritus and a high school teacher receives it,” Stubblefield said.

Robert Lyons, professor and assistant dean of the College of Education and Human Services, said it was the college’s honor to present her with the award.

“Ms. Jennifer Stubblefield is a prime example of our college’s alumni,” Lyons said. “She is a lifelong learner who goes above and beyond the call of duty to serve not only her students but also her peers, our region and the field of education.”

As part of the award Stubblefield participated in the Homecoming Parade where she got to ride in a vintage car.

“I love parades,” Stubblefield said. “It was great. The man who drove me in the parade is actually a former coworker of mine here at the high school.”

She was able to bring someone to ride with her in the parade and chose her dad because he is one of the biggest reasons she decided to become an educator. 

When she was graduating high school the state was just beginning to become computerized and she knew she wanted to work with children.

“I love technology, I love everything about business, entrepreneurship, but I loved kids,” Stubblefield said. “When I got on campus I was quickly introduced to the business education career pathway.”

Stubblefield attended Murray State as a nontraditional student, having married her high school sweetheart between her sophomore and junior years of college. Being a nontraditional student didn’t stop her from taking in all the University has to offer.

“I got to work in all the right places,” Stubblefield said. “I was a student ambassador charged with going to recruit students for Murray State. I was not in Greek Life but I stayed very busy, there was never a time when I was bored.”

She was also involved in other activities across campus, community service and organizations in the education department.

Her favorite part about being a teacher is the students she gets to work with.

“The kids keep you young, the kids have energy, the kids are what make you want to come to school everyday,” Stubblefield said. “You work with great people, I have some of the best colleagues but it’s the kids.”

She takes being a teacher very seriously, saying her students are like sponges.

“You could really alter someone’s career path with negativity or your lack of enthusiasm,” Stubblefield said.

Winning this award makes Stubblefield proud to be a Racer.

“The College of Education is one of the oldest and to join this list of all the people they could have picked it is a huge honor and something I don’t take lightly and will treasure forever,” Stubblefield said.

Stubblefield will retire in April from teaching in the very classroom she had high school classes in.

“I’m looking forward to the next chapter,” Stubblefield said. “I’m definitely not going to sit home on the back porch and knit and make cookies but I’m ready to start my second career and see what God’s got going out there for me and what door he’s going to open for me next.”

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