Sterling College seniors Grace Battershell, of Wheatland, Wyo., and Aaron Elsasser, of Columbia, Mo., were honored as “Teachers of Promise” at the 2027 Dale Dennis Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet. The banquet was held Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Wichita Marriott Hotel in Wichita.

Battershell is a senior elementary education major, and Elsasser is a senior health and human performance major.

“These two students represent the very best of what we hope to cultivate in future educators. Their passion for teaching, commitment to excellence, and desire to positively impact the next generation make them truly deserving of this recognition. We are excited to see the difference they will make in the lives of their future students,” said Dr. William Anderson, assistant professor of education.  

The Dale Dennis Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet, sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, recognizes outstanding educators from across the state. The 2027 banquet is part of the 2026-27 Kansas Teacher of the Year program cycle.

Each semester, one or two Sterling College students in their senior year are selected according to criteria related to key elements of the Sterling Teacher Education Program. These criteria include educational dispositions and content, professional and cumulative GPAs.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.