UWG News Item
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Alums receive Presidential Awards of Excellence
June 22, 2006
CARROLLTON, GA - University of West Georgia Graduate School alumni have long been recognized for their accomplishments and this year is no exception. From exemplary teaching to outstanding leadership, UWG graduates alumni have received several recognitions this spring.
UWG
alumnae Zoe Evans and Cherie Long received one of the highest honors in
teaching this spring when both were awarded the Presidential Awards of
Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. They are the only teachers
in Georgia to win the award this year.
Evans, a two-degree alumna from West Georgia, received the Presidential Award for teaching Life Science at Central Middle School (CMS) in Carroll County.
The Carrollton resident earned a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education in 1993 and a Master’s degree in Middle Grades Science Education in 2002. She also earned a gifted certification at UWG and became National Board Certified in Early Adolescence Science in 2004.
“I believe that receiving my National Board Certification, being the Central Middle School Teacher of the Year and the way I conduct my classes were all instrumental in my being nominated for this award,” said Evans.
She has been teaching at Central Middle School for 13 years and said she likes to demystify science for her students and teach them critical thinking skills.
Cherie Long won the Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics. Long will teach at Ola Middle School in Henry County when it opens in the fall. The McDonough resident earned a Master’s degree in Middle Grades Education with a concentration in mathematics and science in 1995. Long said that she feels honored to be recognized with the prestigious award.
“I am a classroom teacher and that’s all I ever want to be,” said Long. “I don’t aspire to be an administrator and wouldn’t do anything else. I love what I do. Perhaps when the judges were viewing the video they could see the passion I feel in the classroom.”
Long said she teaches her students to see that mathematics is all around them in the everyday world through games, song, dance and music.
Both Presidential Award winners follow in the footsteps of another alumna from the UWG Graduate School, Vicki Jacobs of Stockbridge. Jacobs ’90 received the 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching and earned a Master’s degree at UWG.
Long and Evans traveled to Washington DC for a week of presentations and professional workshops. Both were thrilled to meet with President George W. Bush and have their photograph taken with him.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching were established in 1983 by an Act of Congress and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency. Awardees receive $10,000 grant from the NSF and an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the District of Columbia for a week of celebratory events and professional development.
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