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Nevaeh Clayton

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Diving
  • Swimming
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Photography and Photo Editing
  • Choir
  • Acting And Theater
  • Exploring Nature And Being Outside

Reading

  • Young Adult
  • Academic
  • Adult Fiction

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

Greetings! My name is Nevaeh Clayton, and I am from Green Bay, Wisconsin. I am entering my sophomore year at Carroll University, where I am pursuing a degree in Special Education. During my freshman year, I maintained a 3.65 GPA while competing as a diver on the university’s swim and dive team. I am actively involved in organizations that reflect my commitment to service and inclusion. As a member of Chi Omega, I support the Make-A-Wish Foundation and helped fundraise to grant a wish for a local child. Through Best Buddies, I am partnered with an individual with a disability, building a meaningful connection while promoting inclusion. Outside of school, I am the President of the Wisconsin Leadership Seminar (WILS), organizing volunteer opportunities and securing donations to support future leaders. In addition, I work early mornings at the Waukesha Area YMCA to help pay for my education, strengthening my work ethic and time management. My passion for Special Education is personal. I strive to ensure all students have equitable access to education. I honor my grandmother’s dream of teaching and advocate for my cousin Violet, who has faced disability discrimination. I am committed to being a supportive and empowering educator.

Education

Carroll University

Bachelor's degree program

2025 – 2029

Majors:
  • Special Education and Teaching

Ashwaubenon High

High School

2021 – 2025

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Majors of interest:
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Special Education and Teaching
Desired degree modality:
In-Person, Full-Time
Medical school interest:
No
English as first language:
Yes
Homeschooled:
No

Career

  • Swim Instructor & Lifeguard

    Education · YMCA of Waukesha

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Swim Instructor & Lifeguard

    Education · Village of Ashwaubenon

    Jan 2023 – Present

  • Swim Instructor & Lifeguard

    Education · YWCA of Green Bay

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2025

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Special Education
Dream career goals:
High School Special Education Teacher & High School Diving Coach
Work experience:
3 years
Has nursing license:
No
Leadership experience:
Yes

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Faye Hilgart Women in Mathematics and Math Education Scholarship
Winner
Math hasn’t come easy for me. Throughout high school, I maintained a ‘B’ average in my math classes. I had to do a lot of work outside of the classroom to earn those grades. I would spend hours making up practice problems and often looked for videos that further explained the concepts we learned in class that day. I’d do my best to break down math practice problems and would try to find something in nature or in my personal life I could relate those problems to. I will be honest, there were times I wanted to give up and just search for the answer online, but I knew that with time, effort, practice, and perseverance, I could learn and understand math. Mr. Ryczkowski was my Math 2 teacher my sophomore year in high school. After a few days in his class, I realized there was something unfamiliar about him. His teaching style was different. He was teaching to us, his students, not teaching “to the book.” He actually listened to our questions and adjusted his daily lessons to include additional practice problems, discussions, and even games to help us develop a deeper knowledge base of the concepts. I was engaged. I was understanding. And for the first time in years, I didn’t dread going to math class! I wasn’t “dumb” in math, I just needed to be taught math using a student centered approach. As a future special education teacher, I know that I will be responsible for teaching my students math. It is very possible that my future students may struggle with math and/or have a dislike for math based on previous math class experiences. Whether I’ll be teaching basic math skills like counting money or a special education version of algebra or geometry, I will keep my students' best interest at heart. I will tailor my math lessons to the student’s ability levels and really try to understand where their math struggles lie. I will include math related activities that demonstrate real world scenarios they may encounter as young adults. I want them to gain confidence and find success in their math classes with me. The Faye Hilgart Women in Mathematics and Math Education Scholarship will allow me to continue my studies as I pursue my degree in education. Like Mr. Ryczkowski and I imagine Ms. Hilgart, I will teach to and for the students. I will develop lesson plans that are engaging, enriching, and relevant to my students and their ability levels. I will help them overcome their dislike or fear of math and help them realize they can do hard things. I will celebrate my students and their accomplishments.
Nevaeh Clayton Student Profile | Bold.org