Krystle Merry, a Ph.D. student in Special Education Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and Health Professions at the U of A, was one of 110 doctoral students in the U.S. and Canada selected to receive a $20,000 Scholar Award from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was sponsored by Chapter DX of Fayetteville.

The Scholar Awards were established in 1991 to provide substantial merit-based awards for women of the U.S. and Canada who are pursuing a doctoral-level degree at an accredited college or university. Scholar Awards recipients are a select group of women chosen for their high level of academic achievement and their potential for having a positive impact on society.

"I cannot thank the P.E.O. International Scholar Program enough for their contribution to both my education and research to support the inclusion of students and young adults with disabilities in schools, higher education institution, and in the workforce," Merry said. "I would also like to thank the wonderful P.E.O women here at the University of Arkansas and in the Fayetteville DX Chapter for being exceptional role models and creating opportunities for myself and other graduate and international students to achieve this distinguished award."

"I also want to personally thank my adviser, Dr. Suzanne Kucharczyk, Dr. Tom Smith, the College of Education and Health Professions Curriculum and Instruction Department and the Graduate School and International Education for putting in an enormous amount of time and effort into the scholar I am today and allowing me many opportunities over the past three years to work towards this amazing achievement," Merry added.

Merry is a doctoral student and Razorback-Sooner Teaming for Transition Office of Special Education Programs scholar at the U of A pursuing her degree in special education curriculum and instruction with a certificate in transition services and autism. Her dissertation research is currently exploring special education transition services in online and virtual learning environments to support students with disabilities in preparing for post-secondary employment, education and independent living.

Merry currently extends her research as an intern at the Center for Applied Special Technology in the Center for Inclusive Technology and Education Systems and has a new internship position this summer with the Department of Education at the Office of Special Education Programs. She is a National Board-Certified Teacher, instructor to preservice special education teachers at the U of A and holds various leadership positions across the university as a graduate representative and Academic and Teaching Chair for the Graduate Professional Student Congress. Merry also recently received Ph.D. Student of the Year for 2022-2023 from the College of Education and Health Professions Curriculum and Instruction Department at the university.

The P.E.O. Sisterhood, founded Jan. 21, 1869, at Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is a philanthropic educational organization dedicated to supporting higher education for women. There are approximately 6,000 local chapters in the U.S. and Canada with nearly a quarter of a million active members.