The VATFACS Outstanding Business and Industry Award is presented to business and industry partners throughout the state that support family and consumer sciences programs. 

Mr. Van Noland and Ms. Sherita White of Wachovia Bank provided interactive, division-wide staff development for 48 FACS teachers in Henrico County at no cost to the school system.  The presentation focused on HANDS ON BANKING resources available to educators free of charge.  In addition, these representatives visited several Family and Consumer classrooms to teach teens about budgeting and banking services.  They assist Family and Consumer Sciences teachers in meeting course competencies related to Financial Literacy and ultimately prepare students for success in the area of Financial Literacy.

The Outstanding Administrator Award is given to administrators who have shown consistent support for family and consumer science programs.  Administrators may include building principals, local family and consumer sciences supervisors, and career and technical education directors.

Mr. Ronald Rodriguez, Principal of Henrico High School since 2008, has worked consistently to support family and consumer sciences programs within the school.  Most recently Mr. Rodriguez supported the school’s Intro to Culinary Arts class by permitting students to showcase their talents at staff meetings and community functions.  The program doubled in size from 2 sections to 4.  Impressed with the FACS students, Mr. Rodriguez has fought to offer Culinary Arts I at Henrico High, a course traditionally only offered at the county’s technical centers.  Upon learning of the cost in renovations required to offer Culinary I, Mr. Rodriguez again supported FACS teachers and against common practice secured the use of the campus cafeteria until funding could be secured and renovations made.  In the words of his nominator, Ms. Adrienne Lambert, “Mr. Rodriguez has truly worked hard to provide us with the resources for a sterling program.  Henrico High School students are now able to build the skills necessary to help them find a rewarding career in the Family and Consumer Sciences field.” 

The Outstanding New Teacher Award is to encourage new teachers to remain in the profession. Recipients of this award must have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique and novel programs and have shown a professional commitment early in their careers. The winner of this award is eligible to compete at the regional level. 

While Ms. Rachel VanPelt has only taught for four years, she has made significant contributions to her school, community, and the field of family and consumer sciences.  Ms. VanPelt serves as the secretary on the VATFACS board of directors; former president of the Virginia FCCLA Alumni and Associates; current member of the Virginia FCCLA Board of Directors; president of the Fairfax County Family and Consumer Sciences Educators Association; chair of the Fairfax County Public Schools FCCLA District Competition; and she recently completed her Master’s degree from Virginia Tech.  Ms. VanPelt stated, “I’m sure that regardless of how many years I teach, I’ll always be able to learn new ideas through collaboration with my peers at these professional gatherings.” 

The Outstanding Teacher in Community Service Award recognizes teachers with significant accomplishments and outstanding leadership in programs and activities that promotes community involvement. Recipients of this award must have made significant contributions toward training, motivating, and inspiring their peers and students to become involved in programs and projects that benefit their communities.

Ms. Leslie Nussman, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher and FCCLA Advisor at Dinwiddie High School, works hard to incorporate service learning through her FACS program. She has utilized FCCLA as a catalyst for organizing and coordinating various service projects, including feeding the homeless, collecting items for a children’s orphanage, assisting victims of domestic violence to name a few. Her school administrators writes, “I have on numerous occasions seen Leslie go out of her way to assist students and to foster caring supportive relationships with those that she encounters.”

The Distinguished Service Award is present to a teacher, either present or past, who has made significant contributions to the improvement, promotion, development, and progress of family and consumer sciences education on the local, state, and national levels during his or her career. 

Debbie Will started contributing to our profession as a high school student, by serving as a state FCCLA officer.  She excelled as a middle school FACS teacher and FCCLA advisor before working in her current position on the FCCLA state staff as Co-Specialist.  For the past fourteen years has coordinated Virginia’s STAR Events and the Leadership Foundation.  Under Debbie’s leadership STAR Events participation in Virginia has skyrocketed, providing more and more FACS students with the valuable learning experiences FCCLA competition has to offer. Her nominator, Ms. Connie Rhoton, says, “I cannot imagine anyone else with the necessary skill set to manage our competitions with over 800 entries 150 volunteer workers. Debbie Will is truly “the Queen of STAR Events.”  In her role as Executive Director of the Virginia FCCLA Leadership Foundation, Ms. Will works to increase revenue and provide funding various leadership opportunities including, scholarships for state officers to attend the National Meeting, payment of STAR Events entry fees for Virginia members competing on the national level, scholarships to advisors for professional development, and grants for chapters to implement FACS related projects in their schools and communities.  Because of the Foundation and Ms. Will’s hard work FACS teachers and students across the commonwealth benefit from leadership opportunities that are higher quality and more affordable. 

Laura Butcher  was awarded the Helen Hopper Family and Consumer Sciences Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Laura has just finished her junior year at Bridgewater College. She will student teach in the spring of 2012 and plans on becoming a secondary Family and Consumer Sciences teacher.

Jessica McClean  was awarded the Martha Creighton Family and Consumer Sciences Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.  Jessica is entering her junior year at Bridgewater College and will student teach in the fall of 2012. She plans on becoming a Family and Consumer Sciences Education teacher. Jessica has extensive experience with FCCLA which she will also bring to our profession.

Windi Turner  was awarded the Sharron K. Glasscock Family and Consumer Sciences Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Windi is enrolled in the doctoral program for Career and Technical Education at Virginia Tech. Her career goal is to obtain a collegiate teaching position where she can apply her previous experiences and self-drive to contribute new ideas and innovative teaching methodologies that will inspire students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Career and Technical Education at a liberal arts college. 

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• President-Elect
• Secretary
• Reporter

Positions open in August. Elections well be held during the annual business meeting at the 2011 VATFACS Professional Development Institute and elected officers will need to plan to attend the first board meeting on August 3rd. Click on each position to download nomination forms.