Instructor honored

    PRESQUE ISLE – An education instructor at the University of Maine at Presque Isle received top honors at a National Education Association event this summer for her work with the Student Education Association of Maine (SEAM).     Wendy Ross, an instructor of education at UMPI, was named the Outstanding Local Advisor for 2007-2008 during the National Education Association-Student Program’s Summer Leadership Conference, held in Washington, D.C., in July.
    Ross was honored for her work with SEAM, a student organization for future educators. The organization, with chapters across the state, provides professional development opportunities and allows members to network and interact with education professionals and teacher education students in Maine and across the country. The University, under Ross’s guidance, established a SEAM chapter last year.
    The NEA Student Program Outstanding Local Advisor Award recognizes an individual for dedication and service to the NEA Student Program at the local level, according to the SEAM’s Web site.
    SEAM took home three other national awards during the leadership conference. It received an award for membership increase in 2007-2008. This award went to all state affiliates who had an increase in membership over the previous year. SEAM received another award for Largest Membership Increase in 2007-2008 for Outstanding Achievement in Membership Recruitment and Growth. Finally, SEAM member Cynthia Fabbricatore, a Maine Education Association staff member, received the Edward F. Boggs Award for Outstanding State Student Organizer for 2007-2008.
    University officials are thrilled with the progress the local SEAM chapter has made as well as the contributions it has made to the statewide organization in just one year.