MHS teacher honored by national council
Minot High School social studies teacher Jeff Beck received a Distinguished Teaching Award at the National Council for Geographic Education annual conference last month.
Beck belongs to many professional organizations and does his best to bring geography into the everyday lives of students. He developed and piloted a summer tour program/workshop for teachers that focuses on significant topics related to various regions of North Dakota, highlighting its geography, agriculture and economy. More than 500 teachers from all grade levels and curriculum areas have spent two days visiting key stakeholders in the state's economies. He has worked with the N.D. Department of Agriculture's "Ag in the Classroom" program for the past 10 years to help facilitate those tours.
"As a high school teacher it was disconcerting that my students were not more aware of the world around them," said Beck in a press release. "The primary goal of this type of field study is to provide teachers real-time experiences they can utilize and integrate into the curriculum. When one of those 'teachable moments' occurs in their classroom, they can reflect on personal knowledge and experience to better inform their students. Teachers that participate in the tour may experience shearing sheep, milking cows, as well as observe the cattle to market process. They see farms and ranches and visit with people who provide goods and services that make our state unique. They tour key economic and resource centers such as coal mines, oil wells, electric plants, agricultural equipment manufacturers, sales rooms and repair shops. Tour participants receive a DVD of photos and movie clips taken by the tour videographer that is intended for classroom use."
Beck is a long-term member of the N.D. Geographic Alliance and presently serves on its board of directors. He is a member of the N.D. Geographic Alliance Strategic Planning Team and has been a leader and guide in designing long-term goals to raise the level of geographic literacy throughout the state's classrooms.
'Polar Plunge' helps raise more than $4,000
On Dec. 2, the Sleep Inn and Suites in Minot hosted the "Polar Plunge" event to benefit Special Olympics North Dakota. More than 20 people were registered for this event, with turnout exceeding that number, according to organizers.
In 39-degree weather, plungers jumped into frigid waters to raise awareness and show support for the athletes. More than $4,000 has been raised so far, averaging more than $180 per person.
Statewide, the Polar Plunge was held in four locations in 2012: Grand Forks, Fargo, Jamestown and Minot. In total, 2012 Polar Plunges in N.D. brought in more than $45,000.
Five prizes were awarded at Minot's Polar Plunge: youngest plunger - Dylan Walls; oldest plunger - Daniel Bower; best belly flop - Micheal Colecchi; best costume - Cathleen Biala as "Pooh Bear;" and most money raised by an individual - David Ben, Bremer Insurance, $427. The Golden Plunger Award for most money raised by a group went to Minot Air Force Base.
Special Olympics North Dakota has 1,400 athletes that compete and train in 15 Olympic-style sports year-round, with no cost to them or their families. All funds raised support these programs and promote awareness of people living with intellectual disabilities in North Dakota.
For more information, please contact Katie at 746-0331, or projectsdir@aol.com.
Scrubs Academy scheduled at UND
The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks is holding its Scrubs Academy for North Dakota sixth, seventh and eighth graders from June 17-20.
Kids will get to dissect an eyeball, interact with human simulators used by medical students, explore a giant colon, become CPR and HIPAA certified, and learn about different body systems and how health care professionals work with those systems. Kids will also learn about different health care careers such as pharmacy, physical therapy, EMS, mental health, radiology, clinical laboratory science, dietetics, occupational therapy, social work, nursing, physician, public health and dentistry.
The cost is $150. The deadline to apply is March 15. For more information about the program, log on to (ruralhealth.und.edu/scrubsacademy).