Educators honored at College of Education Convocation

The College of Education at Grand Valley will honor two outstanding educators during its convocation ceremony Wednesday, December 7, at 7 p.m. in the DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.

More than 100 graduates are expected to participate. The ceremony is a precursor to Grand Valley’s commencement ceremonies on December 10 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

During convocation, Char Firlik and Patronella Koster will receive the Outstanding Alumni Educator Award.

Char Firlik earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology from Grand Valley. She is currently an educational consultant working with the Kent Intermediate School District. She serves on the advisory council of the Community Literacy Coalition of West Michigan and on United Way’s Vision Council for Education. Firlik previously served as a special education teacher and elementary principal in the Grand Rapids and Kentwood public school districts.
 
Patronella (Nelli) Koster earned a master’s degree in special education from Grand Valley. She worked for 30 years at Sparta Middle School where she taught in a resource room, fifth grade, and sixth grade language arts and social studies. She served on many district and building committees which focused on literacy and student achievement. Koster retired in 2006 and currently works with the Kent Intermediate School District.

For more information, contact Forrest Clift in the College of Education at (616) 331-6230.