Lawrence University Honors Two Weac Members For Excellence

Two WEAC members received Lawrence University's Outstanding Teaching in Wisconsin Award Sunday (June 13, 2004). Stevens Point Area Education Association member Victor Akemann and Gibralter Education Association member Karen Johnson-Zak received a certificate, citation and monetary award during the university's commencement ceremony.

Victor Akemann

Akemann, who teaches advanced biology at Stevens Point Area High School, has been recognized nationally and in Wisconsin for professional excellence. In 2002, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point named him Wisconsin's Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year. Last year he was one of eight teachers nationwide to receive the University of Minnesota's Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Award.

He is a member if the National Center for Science Education and National Science Teachers Association.

Karen Johnson-Zak

Johnson-Zak has taught French at her alma mater, Gibralter High School, since 1973. She is well known in her community for the "immersion" field trips to France she organizes for students, who spend a week living with French host families and experience excursions to Paris and other cities.

She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of French and the Wisconsin Association of Foreign Language Teachers.

Lawrence University's teaching award has honored secondary school educators' excellence for 19 years. Lawrence seniors nominate teachers, and recipients are selected for their caring attitude toward students in and out of the classroom, ability to create a sense of excitement in the classroom, and ability to motivate students to achieve academic excellence.

Posted June 16, 2004