FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 6, 2003
Contact: Ward Mullens
734.487.4400
ward.mullens@emich.edu

EMU Honors Exceptional Educators
During Annual Convocation of Excellence Oct. 11

YPSILANTI – For the second year, Eastern Michigan University will honor high school teachers and counselors during its annual Convocation of Excellence, Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m., Pease Auditorium.

The Convocation of Excellence recognizes the achievements of EMU’s top freshmen and scholarship recipients, as well as those teachers and counselors who helped, inspired and motivated them to go on to college.

“Time and time again we heard incoming freshmen say that they would never have made it to college without the assistance of a special high school teacher,” said Courtney McAnuff, vice president for enrollment services. “So, last year we decided that it was time to honor the people whose hard work resulted in our outstanding incoming students, and it will become a yearly event.”

More than 770 of EMU’s 2,800 incoming freshman voted for an Exceptional Educator. The top 10 nominees will be honored with Exceptional Educator Awards.

Judges selected the winners based upon the strength of the nomination and the number of times candidates were nominated. Award recipients will receive a plaque and a gift certificate.

The 2003 Exceptional Educator Award recipients are:
• Kent Boulton, instrumental music teacher/band director, Big Rapids High School, nominated by Sara Harry.

• Kristi Brewer, guidance counselor, St. Ursula High School (Toledo), nominated by Erin Tropp.

• Paul Drucker, guidance counselor, Imlay City High School, nominated by Nate Thompson.

• Brenda Edwards, science teacher, Murray-Wright High School (Detroit), nominated by Sterra Bryant-Jones.

• Brenda Goebbel, science teacher, Huron High School (Ann Arbor), nominated by Susan Brace.

• Debbie Karabees-Betts, guidance counselor, Harry S. Truman High School (Taylor), nominated by Jamie Medina, Lori Mullins, Joshua Hamilton, Melissa Marvel and Kristin Porchia.

• Judy Kastel, English teacher, Tecumseh High School, nominated by Jenna Lloyd.

• Lonnie Mitchell, math teacher, Chelsea High School, nominated by Angela Suliman.

• Diane Muirhead, guidance counselor, Martin Luther King, Jr., Senior High School (Detroit), nominated by Sharmel Cochran.

• David Susalla (posthumously), math teacher, Franklin High School (Livonia), nominated by Jen Kufel and Megan O’Leary.

Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive metropolitan university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their careers and lives, and to be better citizens.

Eastern Michigan University was recently named “A Best Midwestern College” by Princeton Review’s “The Best Midwestern Colleges: 150 Great Schools to Consider,” and a “best tuition value” by Kaplan’s “Unofficial, Unbiased Guide to the 328 Most Interesting Colleges.”

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