Kailey Udy, a 2015 alumna of Dickinson State University, was recently honored as a “difference maker” by the students and staff at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah. Udy, who teaches 10th grade and IB Language and Literature, was presented with a special DSU-themed gift package from the Dickinson State University Heritage Foundation to celebrate her positive influence on her students' lives.
With the school’s administration team in attendance, Alecia Bodily, College Access Adviser at Ogden High, presented the gift to Udy during one of her classes.
Ogden High Student Voices
At a recent parent-teacher conference, Bodily hosted a booth where students were asked which teacher had made the most significant impact on them. Time and again, Mrs. Udy’s name came up, with students sharing heartfelt reasons for their selection:
"She spends her time after school with me to make sure that I understand the concepts taught in class."
"She is easily approachable and will listen and help me with whatever I need."
Bodily noted, “When talking with the students, you could feel the passion they have for Mrs. Udy and how much she has made a difference in their lives.”
Inspired to Inspire: Lessons from DSU Faculty
Udy shared how her time at Dickinson State shaped her as an educator. “DSU really made me the educator that I am. During my years there, I was able to focus on the aspects of education that were important to me, and I had professors who helped me take that vision and learn ways to apply it,” she said.
Udy regularly thinks of two favorite professors: Dr. Holly McBee and Dr. Suzanne Russ. "Dr. McBee was the epitome of the type of teacher I wanted to be; someone passionate about the subject, but also someone who was real with students," she noted. "She pushed me to be the best writer I could possibly be, to read the difficult texts, and to trust my analysis. To this day, I strive in my teaching to be like her."
As an English Education major with a minor in psychology, Udy also recalls Dr. Russ's invaluable guidance. “Dr. Russ taught me some of the most important lessons,” she reflected. “The belief she had in me pushed me to want to study, and she gave me the tools to look at education in a different light. Most importantly, she taught me the importance of understanding myself and my students.”
Known for her commitment to students both in and out of the classroom, Kailey Udy (née Strandberg) is celebrated as an Alumni Spotlight by the Dickinson State University Heritage Foundation.
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By: Debora Dragseth, Baker Boy Professor of Leadership | School of Business and Entrepreneurship Dickinson State University
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