WESTFIELD-Education is deeply rooted in Kayla Rosenbeck’s family tree.
Rosenbeck, Class of ’16 at Westfield State University, reflected on her famous relative – Horace Mann – during her last day of classes on Wednesday afternoon.
It was 178 years ago that Mann, an American politician and educational reformer, founded the first public coeducational school for teacher education in the United States. Opened in Barre, Mass., as the Normal School at Barre, the school was relocated in 1844 to Westfield. In 1932 the name changed to State Teachers College and in 1967 to Westfield State College. In 2010, the name changed again to Westfield State University.
Rosenbeck, a biology major, is the first-ever descendant of Mann to graduate from Westfield State. Her lineage stems from Benjamin Pickman Mann, one of three sons of Horace Mann. Mann’s other sons were Horace Mann Jr., and George Combe Mann.
“My grandmother always talked about Horace Mann because she had done a lot of research on him,” said Rosenbeck. “I always knew I would pursue higher education because I believe in lifelong learning.”
Kayla Rosenbeck is a direct descendant of Westfield State University founder Horace Mann.
Joyce Hine, Rosenbeck’s grandmother, said during a phone interview that Mann was her great-great-grandfather on her mother’s side.
“My mother’s father, Horace, was the son of Benjamin Pickman Mann,” she said, adding, “My mother was exceptionally smart and I see Kayla as a reincarnation of my mother. She’s always studied and we are very proud of her.”
Karen Post, Rosenbeck’s mother, echoed those sentiments during a phone interview.
“Since kindergarten, Kayla has loved school and knew that higher education was part of her path,” said Post.
When Rosenbeck was deciding which college to attend more than four years ago, once she visited the Westfield State campus with her mom she said “it felt like home.”
Post added “we felt a peace when we came on campus. Kayla knew this is it.”
“I’ve loved my four years at Westfield State,” said Rosenbeck. “It makes me sad to leave because it has been such a great environment for learning. The four years flew by.”
After graduation, Rosenbeck is hoping to be accepted into the Veterinary Tech Program at Middlesex Community College.
“I have always loved animals,” said Rosenbeck, adding in her family’s Newington, Conn., home, they have four dogs. “I was always a tomboy, playing outside, playing with insects. I knew from an early age I wouldn’t be happy any other way.”
Rosenbeck also enjoys riding horses and has won 14 championships over the years.
“I love to ride and would like to continue competing,” she said.
As Mann once made a lasting difference in the lives of others, Rosenbeck hopes one day to also fulfill a dream – to make a difference with wildlife rehabilitation.
“I don’t see myself being in a lab,” she said. “Research is fascinating and I enjoy it but I would prefer doing research outside.”
Rosenbeck also envisions working with adoption services and rescues for animals as part of her life’s journey.
“There’s so much that needs to be done for animals,” she said. “I want to be more active with helping or saving animals.”
As she departs in the coming days from a campus she literally called “home” for four years, she encourages others to pursue higher education.
“It was so normal for me because education was stressed,” she said. “I would suggest to others to push yourself and gain the knowledge you wouldn’t otherwise have. You don’t want to have a job that you don’t enjoy going to every day.”
While Rosenbeck knows her career path includes interacting with animals, she also plans to give back to the university that has given her so much over the past four years.
“I plan to do my part by becoming involved with the Horace Mann Legacy Society,” said Rosenbeck. “It’s so cool to have that connection with him.”
