Fort Valley State University News November 30, 2011 Georgia teacher of the year inspires future teachers at FVSU ceremony November 30, 2011 - Fort Valley State University's College of Education welcomes 63 students into the teaching profession. The future classroom leaders were pinned with golden apples at the fourth annual teachers induction ceremony on Nov. 17. The special ritual, held each fall, during American Education Week, is designed to celebrate the special commitment undergraduate students have made and acknowledge the impact of educators in shaping society. Inductees must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50, finish 50 hours of core courses, complete an interview, submit three letters of recommendation and pass a Regents' exam and Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) basic skills test. "I've crossed a very long bridge. I feel proud to have accomplished this task along with so many other fellow committed students," said Jeff Dalce, an agriculture education student. "The speaker really inspired me as a male in education to go out and make a difference. I am glad that the College of Education and all those who attended are so supportive." Jadun McCarthy, the 2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year from the Bibb County School District, told the group that theirs is not a career choice, but a calling and a lifestyle. "The profession you've chosen is all about children," he said. "This is no 'leave your work at home' job. You're a teacher 24/7. Teaching isn't for the weak-hearted and non-committed. Teachers are strong." McCarthy encouraged the new cadre of educators to remain hopeful, persistent and vigilant in the current economic climate where job cuts are the new normal. "You will get a job. You will get your own classroom. You will be a teacher." During the ceremony two inductees, Alexandra Byrom, an early childhood education student, and Michael Basiden, a health and physical education major, received $1000 scholarships from the family of the late Justine Kitchens, a 1968 FVSU alumna and retired educator. Recipients of the scholarship are required to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, be a Middle Georgia resident, major in education and complete an essay expressing why education was chosen as their field of study. The funds must be used to offset college expenses. For information about the College of Education programs, please call (478) 825-6365. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.