Dana Oliver, a 2020 Southwestern College graduate, recently received the Association of Teacher Education Programs of Kansas (ATE-K) Distinguished Dissertation Award. Oliver is an assistant professor of literacy education and reading specialist program director at Southwestern Oklahoma University. Each year, prior to the spring conference, doctoral students are encouraged to submit a synopsis of their dissertation for review. The synopsis is then evaluated by a panel of ATE-K dissertation committee members. The $250 award is to help encourage, recognize, and promote exemplary doctoral level research that substantially contributes to the improvement of teacher education.