Inspiring others to do their best has been a driving force for Jacqueline Pruder, a secondary education major with a double concentration in theater/communications and English and alumni scholarship recipient. As a child, Pruder always wanted to be a teacher but almost did not pursue the field.

Initially, she planned on studying psychology until her senior year at Standish-Sterling Central High School when she decided education was a better fit. “My English and theater teachers were both amazing and positive people and after taking classes with them, I couldn’t imagine life without theater or English and wanted to have the same impact on people,” Pruder said.

Pruder first caught the acting bug when she was 10. She studied at a daily art camp and took drawing classes and ended up trying theater, too. Enthralled, she then changed all her classes to theater.

“I love that with theater, you can be someone else and be somewhere else. It’s one of the only avenues to have that capability to see things from someone else’s eyes, which is powerful,” Pruder said.

Pruder hopes to teach her future students the lessons she learned from classes and performance experiences. She wants them to develop an appreciation for the technical aspects of theater as well as theater history, in addition to performing on stage. It is also important for her to create a nurturing atmosphere for students, similar to the one she experienced.

Her theater teacher, Judy Harper and English teacher, Andy Madajski, were strong influencers for her and always interested in helping students succeed. They often took time outside of school to help. Their example helped Pruder realize the effects of teaching. She knew she wanted to follow in their footsteps.

“Going into education provides you a unique chance to change someone’s life and not many careers can do that the same way teachers can. I want to help others achieve everything they’re capable of in life,” Pruder said.

It is not surprising she would find a rewarding career in teaching, as both of her parents are teachers. Both graduated from Eastern Michigan University with degrees in education in 1983, have remained in the teaching field for more than 20 years, and have played significant roles in Pruder’s life.

Cathy Pruder studied special education for the emotionally impaired and has taught in the Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools in Whittemore, Mich., for more than 20 years. She also directs the school’s theater program.

Dennis Pruder majored in special education and cognitive impairment and has taught at Standish-Sterling Community School District in Standish, Mich., for more than 20 years. He also finds time to coach cross-country and track and field.

Like most college students, Pruder faced doubts about what major and career to pursue but her parents helped to give her the support and confidence she needed to decide. Pruder is very close to her parents as well as her younger sister, Alyssa Pruder, and credits them with all her accomplishments.

Hearing positive feedback from her parents and high school teachers were strong factors in her decision to attend Eastern. The school’s reputation in education made EMU an easy choice for her. Without the alumni scholarship, it would have been more difficult for her to continue her studies.

While attending EMU, Pruder is involved on campus and in her community. She has enrolled in the Honors College; performed in the EMU Theatre production of A Streetcar Named Desire; assisted with her high school’s varsity dance team; helped her dad’s cross country team; and continuds to with her mother’s middle school theater program. Pruder is also part of the Big Brother/Big Sister program in Washtenaw County.