WV.gov > News > Department of Education and the Arts
Winners of Cyrus Vance Awards for International Education Announced
11/20/2008
Two outstanding recipients were honored November 19, 2008 for work in the field of international education in West Virginia. Dr. Mike Strada of West Liberty State College (WLSC) was recognized for a career of leadership in higher education international education. Deborah Nicholson of Bridgeport High School (BHS) was acknowledged for her efforts in bringing teachers from The Republic of China to Harrison County schools. Thirty-one additional individual educators and programs were recognized for their achievements in guiding students in the field of international studies.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Strada, who has been a professor at WLSC for nearly 40 years, encouraged educators to urge their own students to look beyond their Appalachian backgrounds for new perspectives on international affairs. A founding member of FACDIS, a nationally recognized West Virginia higher education consortium on international education, Strada spoke of the importance of statewide programs for faculty and student interaction.
Deborah Nicholson, a 16 year veteran Spanish and Italian teacher at BHS, accepted the award with her own acknowledgements to her family’s Italian heritage. “Learning a language is important in making real contact with our families who may live in other countries,” said Nicholson. “Coming from Clarksburg, the hometown of Cyrus Vance, makes this award even more special. I am humbled to know that my work has been singled out among all the many other wonderful people and projects in international education. This is a proud moment for our students, too. It’s a new benchmark, a standard for which they can all strive.”
The awards program was initiated in the Department of Education and the Arts to find exceptional models for promoting international education. “Each year we find sterling examples of quality international education existing throughout West Virginia,” said Education and the Arts Secretary Kay Goodwin. “All of the nominees raise the bar in international education for this generation of students and students to come.”
Keynote speaker for the ceremony, Vivien Woofter, recently retired as Director of Interior and Furnishing for the U.S. Department of State, was impressed with the depth of international education taking place in West Virginia. In her remarks she praised the importance that West Virginia has placed on educating students towards global citizenship.
In addition to Strada and Nicholson, the list of nominees receiving Cyrus Vance Awards included in higher education:
Dr. Sarah Adams, University of Charleston
Dr. Erin N. Hippolyte, Fairmont State University
Dr. Clifford Hawley, WVU-College of Business
Glenville State College PDS Partnership
Dr. Rebecca Phillips, WVU-Parkersburg
Bluefield State College International Programs
Dr. Mohamed Khalil, Fairmont State University
Dr. Joe Wyatt, Marshall University
Dr. Dominick DeFilippis, Wheeling Jesuit University
Dr. Clinton W. Maffett, Bethany College
included in K-12 education the nominees:
Mrs. Marilyn Joshi, West Fairmont Middle School
Mrs. Karla Smith, Liberty High School
Dr. Carol Graham, Hometown Elementary School
Ms. Karen Kersey, Alban Elementary School
Mrs. Stephanie Mills, Barboursville Middle School
Mrs. Debbie Lackey, Princeton Middle School
Mrs. Barbara McCullough, Jackson Middle School
WV Foreign Language Teachers Association
Mrs. Carol Thorp, Kenova Elementary School
Mrs. Elizabeth Daigle, Greenbrier East High School
Mrs. Angel Brown, West Teays Elementary School
Ms. Angela S. Montague, Berkeley Springs High School
Ms. Joy Marion, West Taylor Elementary School
Mr. Gustavo Barros, Early Language Learning Program
Ms. Peggy Dolan, Early Language Learning Program
Mrs. Diana Ihlenfeld, Early Language Learning Program
Ms. Sharon Clagett, Lumberport Elementary School
Ms. Maria T. Hacey de Lazaro, Charlestown Middle
Mrs. Tiffany Litton, Lewis County High School
Ms. Brigitte LaFontaine, East Fairmont High School
Mr. Xavier A. Garcia, East Fairmont High School
The Cyrus Vance Awards were created by the Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts in 2001 to honor West Virginia educators who best exemplify Vance’s dedication to the understanding of international issues and affairs and to promote greater international understanding among West Virginia students. A native of Clarksburg, Vance served as Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter, Deputy Secretary of Defense under President Johnson, and Secretary of the Army under President Kennedy. He also served as a special presidential envoy to many of the flashpoints of the 20th century: the Panama Canal Zone, Cyprus, Vietnam, South Africa, and Croatia. After a distinguished career in public service and diplomacy, Vance passed away in January 2002.
Annually, two Cyrus Vance Awards are presented, one to a K-12 educator or educational organization and another to a higher education organization or faculty member. Both winners receive a monetary award to advance their endeavors in the field of international education in addition to an original piece of Blenko-crafted glass art.
First Lady Gayle Manchin joined Cabinet Secretary Goodwin in presenting the awards.
Contact Information
H. Keith Spears
304-558-2440
keith.h.spears@wv.gov