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New Student MEA chair Tracy Szutkowski wants to see chapters working together
Tracy Szutkowski has high expectations for herself.
“I want to make a difference in the world,” says
Szutkowski, who was elected to serve as chairperson of
Student MEA for 2007-2008.
Student MEA is a preprofessional organization for college
students preparing to become teachers. Nearly 2,400
students belong to the group. Szutkowski’s term begins
Sept. 1.
A graduate of Warren Mott High School, Szutkowski is
pursuing a double major in French and elementary education
with a specialization in language arts at Michigan
State University. Her dream, she says, is to teach French
and English to seventh-graders.
“I’m only one person and if I can improve just one student,
then I’ll feel I’ve done my part,” Szutkowski says.
She’s studying abroad in France this summer, completing
some of her degree requirements in French culture and
literature.
Szutkowski has been active in the student association,
having served as vice chairperson during the 2006-07
school year. She is president of the SMEA chapter at
MSU.
One of Szutkowski’s goals for the coming year is to find
a way for student chapters to work together.
“The big thing is helping to make Student MEA interconnected,”
she said. “I’d like to see more cooperation among
the different university (chapters). I want every chapter to
feel they have resources across the campuses.”
She says that her experience with Student MEA has helped her learn more about the teaching profession. “I can read all the articles in the world, but I don’t have my own classroom yet,” Szutkowski said. “Student MEA is a great tool to gain experience and understanding of the working world.” For more information about the student program, go to www.mea.org/smea.
Detroit Tigers’ MEA Day Ticket Order Form
The defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers
will host MEA Day on Sunday, Aug. 12, when they play the
Oakland Athletics at 1:05. MEA members can order as many
tickets as they’d like for only $18 each. That Sunday is also
a Kid’s Day, so ferris wheel and carousel rides are free and
kids can run the bases after the game (weather permitting).
Go to www.mea.org to download the order form and be entered to win a special prize—the chance to throw out the first pitch at the Aug. 12 game! If it is easier for you, feel free to use the form here to order your tickets. (You must go to www.mea.org to register to win the first-pitch contest.)
MEA members must use either this ticket order form or the one downloaded from www.mea.org to receive the discount. This offer is not available at the Comerica Park Box Office or through any tickets.com outlets. Orders must be mailed or faxed only. Subject to availability—order early as tickets are limited.
Nominate exceptional history teachers for Odyssey Awards
The Michigan Historical Center Foundation plans to honor up to four outstanding teachers of Michigan history who are doing an exceptional job of teaching and supporting Michigan history.
The awards are part of the foundation’s Odyssey 2007 event that supports the continuance and expansion of Michigan history education programs offered through the Michigan Historical Center.
Names of the 2007 Odyssey Award recipients will be announced publicly in September, and awards, along with a cash gift of $500, will be presented to recipients at their individual schools.
The recipients also will be celebrated at the Jingle Ball, a gala event on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing.
You can go to www.michigan.gov/odyssey to nominate teachers who have demonstrated exceptional skills in teaching Michigan history or contact the foundation by calling 517/373-2565 or e-mail mhcfoundation@michigan.gov to have a nomination form mailed. Nomination deadline is Aug. 1.
The Michigan Historical Center Foundation is a private not-for-profit organization that supports the work of the Michigan Historical Center.
It includes the Michigan Historical Museum, nine regional museums, the State Archives of Michigan, Archeological and Historic Preservation programs, and publications, including Michigan History magazine.
Kalamazoo County EA honors top teachers
Ten outstanding teachers from the Kalamazoo County EA won coveted Partners in Education Awards at the annual banquet at Western Michigan University’s Fetzer Center in April. Recipients included (seated, from left) Jill Lansky, Kalamazoo Librarians; Patsy Aldrich, Mattawan EA; Karen Bankston, Portage EA; Cecilia Mallet, Parchment EA; and (standing, from left) Martha LeZotte, Vicksburg EA; Peggy Kendrick, Gull Lake EA; Ardis Cook, Galesburg-Augusta EA; Kristin Caroselli, Schoolcraft EA; Karen Amsbury, Comstock EA; and Millie Lambert, Kalamazoo EA.
28 students receive coveted MEA college scholarships
Eighteen public school students and 10 college students received college scholarships from the MEA Scholarship Fund.
Chosen from more than 1,200 applicants, the 2007 recipients were honored at the MEA Spring RA in Lansing on April 28.
The 18 recipients will receive stipends of $1,555. The 10 returning college students each will receive MEA scholarships of $1,000.
First-time recipients are:
• Angela Abiodun, West Bloomfield High School.
• Julianna Albrecht, Clintondale High School.
• Colleen Budd, Farmington High School.
• Olivia DeVooght, Gwinn High School.
• Elizabeth Fox, Grand Haven High School.
• Elizabeth Koenigsknecht, Grand Ledge High School.
• Steve Lambert, Grand Rapids Forest Hills High School.
• Jessica Martinez, Coloma High School.
• Megan McClure, Ypsilanti High School.
• Ankita Mohanty, Mt. Pleasant High School.
• John Morgan III, Riverview High School.
• Huy Nguyen, Kelloggsville High School.
• Samuel Scholtens, Thornapple Kellogg High School.
• Ashley Swartz, Laingsburg High School.
• Bryan VanDuinen, Grand Rapids City High School.
• Travis White, Sault Ste. Marie Area High School. • Kelly Wilt, Utica Eisenhower High School.
• Abigail Wolfe, Livonia Stevenson High School.
Returning college students receiving scholarships include:
• Samantha Cummings, University of Michigan.
• Tawana Day, Western Michigan University.
• Oichao Dong, University of Michigan.
• Wendi-Jo Ervin, Grand Valley State University.
• Ashley Jordet, University of Michigan.
• Emily Mageski, Central Michigan University.
• Eugene Malin, University of Michigan.
• AnnaLiisa Schourek, Western Michigan University.
• Megan Smith, Michigan Technological University.
• Emily Tobin, Michigan State University.
For general information on the MEA Scholarship Fund, visit www.mea.org under Awards & Grants, then MEA Scholarship. Applications for 2008 scholarships will be posted in October.
2007 MEA Scholarship recipients were honored at the Spring Representative Assembly. They included (first row, from left) Bryan VanDuinen, John Morgan III, Angela Abiodun, Elizabeth Koenigsknecht, Colleen Budd, Saurabh Pandey (with Scholarship Fund Trustees chair Mary Christian); (second row, from left) Megan McClure, Julianna Albrecht, Ashley Swartz, Olivia DeVooght and Kelly Wilt; (third row, from left) Samantha Cummings, Tawana Day, Ashley Jordet, Wendi-Jo Ervin, AnnaLiisa Schourek and Emily Tobin. (Pandey later declined the scholarship due to plans to attend college in California.)