DOWNEY – Nicole Kosakowski, a Baylor University senior from Downey and 2011 graduate of Warren High School, received the Who’s Who Among College Students award on Feb. 26 at Baylor University. 

Created in 1934 by Henry Pettus Randall Jr., the Who’s Who award honors upperclassmen who have excelled in curricular and extracurricular activities from 1,000 colleges and universities across the nation. 

Kosakowski, the daughter of John and Diane Kosakowski, is majoring in All-Levels Special Education in Baylor’s School of Education. Kosakowski has a deep passion for teaching individuals with disabilities. 

Kosakowski said that the most challenging part of teaching is learning unique characteristics of each student. As the special educator, you have to meet the needs of each student individually. 

“Working with students this past semester, taught me how important it is to establish positive relationships with students,” Kosakowski said. “The more time I spent with each student asking them about their life, the more the student opened up and was willing to cooperate in class.” 

Kosakowski said she hopes that in the future, students with special needs would have an educational team that supports them and helps them utilize resources in order to help the student have the best opportunity to be an independent and important member of society.