Grand Valley State University's College of Education will honor two area educators during its convocation ceremonies scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, December 7 at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, at 600 Forest Hills Avenue SE in Grand Rapids.
About 300 graduates are expected to participate. The ceremony is a precursor to Grand Valley's commencement scheduled for December 9 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
- OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR
- During convocation, Becky Eckstrom, a native of Lake Odessa, will
receive the Outstanding Educator Award. Eckstrom earned a bachelor's
degree from Grand Valley in 1980. After teaching in Forest Hills
Public Schools for 16 years, she pursued a dream to create a school
in which the outdoors was used as the motivation for learning. The
district accepted her proposal and established Goodwillie
Environmental School, a unique learning environment for fifth/sixth
grade students who love nature.
- OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATOR
- Leslie Mount, a native of Greenville, will receive the award for Outstanding Administrator. Mount received both her undergraduate in history, ('96) and graduate degree in educational leadership ('99) from Grand Valley. She is now pursuing a specialist degree from the College of Education. Mount is currently in her 11th year at Belding Area Schools. Her first seven years were spent as a history and political science teacher at Belding High School. She is currently the district's curriculum director.
