An area principal, teacher, and a longtime Grand Valley faculty member were honored during the university's College of Education convocation.
The annual fall convocation for 486 education graduates was December at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids. The event preceded Grand Valley's December 11 commencement ceremonies.
Under the leadership of Principal Ron Veldman, Coopersville High School received the Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Award last spring. Veldman will receive Grand Valley's Outstanding Administrator award.
Coopersville High School was cited for increased test scores, graduation rates and parental involvement. Veldman also led the way to help create 40 new course offerings that focus on career pathways and educational development.
Veldman earned bachelor's (1987) and master's degrees (1993) from Grand Valley. He was hired by Coopersville Area Public Schools in 1988 and taught junior high and high school students in English, science and health for nine years. He also coached several sports before being named principal in 1998.
Fremont High School teacher John Bull will be honored as the Outstanding Educator. Bull earned a bachelor's degree from Grand Valley in 1995 and, later, a master's of education degree from Western Michigan University. He completed his bachelor's degree after serving 12 years of active duty in the Michigan National Air Guard. Bull had taught social science at Fremont Middle School for seven years and is now teaching government at the high school.
Antonio Herrera, Grand Valley professor of education, will be honored for Outstanding Service in the Field of Education. He will serve as grand marshal during convocation.
After receiving a bachelor's degree in Columbia, Herrera earned a doctorate from the University of Oregon. During his 30-year tenure at Grand Valley, Herrera has created and coordinated a variety of graduate programs including Adult Secondary Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
He also created and directed the student-faculty exchange program with the University of Sarajevo in Yugoslavia, and with the University of Granada in Spain. Herrera served as national chairman of the Adult Learning Division of the College of Reading Association. He established Grand Valley's men's soccer program and coached it for 14 years. He is also the author of a book, Education for the 21st Century: From Traditional Education to Technological Revolution.
