Meet the MAFCS Award Recipients!

2017 Teacher of the Year:  Lori Brumbaugh

Lori Brumbaugh is an exemplary example of our profession.  She has developed an outstanding Child Development program at Champlin Park HS and also helps run a pre-school within a high school.  

She is a role model for others working in our professional organization, on various committees, and constantly being an advocate of Family and Consumer Sciences programs.  Lori has become a leader within the Anoka Hennepin district serving 3 years as the Curriculum Support Assistant for Family and Consumer Sciences, Department Leader at Champlin Park HS, and working on curriculum and program development.  

Lori has an impeccable work ethic and is an inspiration to anyone working in the Family and Consumer Sciences area.

Outstanding Service Award:  The Outstanding Service Award is given each year to MAFCS member(s) who continually gives of them self within our organization to serve in the many capacities needed to keep our organization “top notch”.

Amanda has provided leadership to MAFCS by serving on the By-Laws and Handbook committees during her 15years of MAFCS membership.  She currently serves as Recording Secretary.  In addition, Amanda has enthusiastically welcomed guests and engaged them in FACS related conversation at the MAFCS State Fair Booth in the Education building for numerous years.  Also Amanda decorated a patriotic themed table for her military family guests at the 2014 spring Gala and at the 2015 derby themed Gala, she was the "Place" winner with her fun and fancy hat.   Amanda took theinitiative to present a position paper supporting FACS at a political caucus and it was accepted.  She has also attended and presented at MAFCS meetings and conferences.  Also she has written numerous articles for the MAFCS newsletter.  For example, a recent article discussed her student's service project of making chemo-caps for teens at a local hospital.  Amanda teaches at Northdale Middle School in the Anoka School District and has been An Outstanding Professional award recipient.

It is with heartfelt congratulations that we recognize and thank Amanda for your dedication and service to MAFCS and our profession!

Debbie Larson's passion, dedication, vision, and leadership epitomize outstanding service  to our MAFCS organization and profession.  She has served as MAFCS President 2 times,  President-Elect 2 times, been active on the Advisory/Policy, Action-Plan, Finance, and Public PolicyCommittees.  Deb was one of our members who worked diligently to secure a Family and Consumer Education Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education.  She was also a team member in researching, developing and writing the FACS Frameworks.  In addition, she has coordinated the planning and presented at numerous MAFCS and AAFCS conferences.  Debbie has written numerous articles for the MAFCS newsletter to keep members informed on current professional issues, such as the task force report on the critical teacher shortage and what's being studied as possible solutions.  Deb has also written a math applications book sold through LearningZoneXpress.  Debbie has been honored as the Minnesota Teacher of the Year because of her inspirational integrated teaching curriculum, and received the Outstanding Professional award.  She recently retired, yet she currently serves as the MNACTE President.  

It is with heartfelt congratulations that we recognize and thank Debbie for your dedication and service to MAFCS and our profession!

Beth Smith began her MAFCS membership in 1978.  She has provided leadership to MAFCS by serving as Vice President-Elect and Vice President Education.  Beth was chair of the State Fair FACS committee and has warmly greeted and engaged fair goers with FACS related games and conversation for many Minnesota State Fairs.  Some of you may recall that Beth was the fortunate winner of the Nasco red Kitchen Aid mixer at the 2013 MAFCS conference.  In previous years Beth has held a variety of offices within the organization, including Conference Program Chair and the coordinator of a historic fashion show.  She was recognized as a MAFCS Centennial 100 honoree because of her positive influence as a FACS professional.  Also Beth's commitment and dedication to teaching her students at Big Lake High School was acknowledged when she was named the 2007 MAFCS Teacher of the Year.  One fondly remembers Beth's comedic command of Ole and Lena jokes that entertained a bus full of AAFCS conference attendees on an excursion to the SR Harris fabric store in Brooklyn Center.  She was 2016 recipient of a Best Practice grant to provide equipment for her students to have authentic and experiential learning experiences even though she was planning to retire in June.  Beth's contagious enthusiasm for the FACS profession has been evident throughout her teaching career!

It is with heartfelt congratulations that we recognize and thank Beth for your dedication and years of service to MAFCS and our profession!

Outstanding Professional:  The Outstanding Professional Award is given each year to a MAFCS member who has demonstrated outstanding support and accomplishments in the field of Family and Consumer Science.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the selection of Kari Beran for this award.  Kari is the ultimate FACS professional!  She has worked as an extension agent and currently heads the Kinship for Kids program, a mentoring organization for at-risk youth in New Ulm, Minnesota.  Professionally,  Kari has served MAFCS on many committees and as MAFCS President-Elect and MAFCS President.  Currently she is a member of the MAFCS Advisory/Policy Committee and has served as Chair of the Nominating Committee and also Audit Committee.  Kari has represented MAFCS at AAFCS fall Leadership Conferences.  She was selected to chair the coordinating committee for all of the AAFCS communities and Kari currently serves as the AAFCS Business and Entrepreneur Community Leader/Chair.  Kari has been a continual national conference attendee and presenter.  Also Kari has provided leadership, planning and coordination for several MAFCS annual conferences.  Many clever, fun and "big dollar" Silent Auction items have always been donated by her, plus she has efficiently assisted with the collection of Silent Auction item payments.  In 2009 Kari's dedication and passion for our profession was recognized when she was named a Centennial 100 Honoree for her influence for making a difference as a Family and Consumer Sciences professional.

It is with heartfelt congratulations that we recognize and thank Kari for her leadership and dedication to our organization and to positively touch lives!

New Achievers Award:  The New Achiever Award is given to an emerging professional who has shown potential for making significant contributions in the field of Family and Consumer Sciences.  This person must have at least three years but not more than eight years of service to the family and consumer sciences field and be an active member of MAFCS.

This year we are pleased to announce Lynsee Mattson, FACS educator at South St. Paul Secondary School as the recipient of this award.  She has been a member of MAFCS for five years.  Lynsee has served as Co-Chair of the Awards and Recognition, Scholarship, and Best Practice Grant committees.  In this capacity, she has screened applications and nominations, communicated with award recipients, designed and printed certificates,  presented awards, and written articles for the MAFCS newsletter.  She currently serves as MAFCS Vice President - Education.  Lynsee is a member of the 2017 Conference Planning Committee plus she is  presenting a break out session "Google and the FACS Classroom" tomorrow (Saturday).  Lynsee jumped right into MAFCS--when Lynsee, along with College-University students, modeled some wonderful spring fashions at the 2009 MAFCS conference.  Her dedication to the FACS profession was evident when she registered and completed the FACS certification test and attended a portion of the MAFCS - St. Cloud conference before leaving due to the possibility that her son, Trygve, was going to make his grand entrance into this world early!  Truly Lynsee exemplifies the qualities and character of a very dedicated emerging FACS professional.

Lynsee will be completing the AAFCS application documents and submitting them for the recently reinstated 2018 AAFCS New Achiever Award.

Outstanding Friend:  The Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (MAFCS) “OUTSTANDING FRIEND” Award recognizes an individual or group/company who is not a member of MAFCS but who shows continued support to the profession as an “outsider”.  

It is with pleasure to announce Goodheart-Willcox Publisher as the 2017 recipient of this award.

The Minnesota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences wishes to congratulate Goodheart-Willcox Publisher on being selected as the 2017 MAFCS Outstanding Friend.   Since 2008 Goodheart-Willcox has sponsored the AAFCS Teacher of Year Award and recognition.  9 MAFCS TOYs and our own Lois Lewis, AAFCS National Teacher of the Year have been recognized and received awardsat the national level by this Company.  Goodheart-Willcox Publisher strives to provide outstanding customer service and is driven to create the most accurate, authoritative content and support materials to best facilitate teaching and learning.  The company focuses exclusively on career and technical education, thus providing comprehensive products for a complete student engaged learning experience.  The company takes pride in the fact that it is headquartered in Illinois and that it manufactures its products in the United States for the North American educational market.  Gail Worthman, Goodheart-Willcox regional and Minnesota consultant is here tonight to accept the MAFCS Outstanding Friend Award.

It is with heartfelt thanks and congratulations that we recognize and thank Goodheart-Willcox Publisher for all you have done and continue to do to support Family and Consumer Science professionals!

MAFCS Community Education Best Practice Grants:   The Education Community Best Practice Grant provides a fund of $250.00 and is awarded to FACS teachers to use in their classroom to support best practice projects that engage and motivate students and/or improve student learning.  The Best Practice Grant is wonderful way to get a creative teaching idea and lesson that involves expense costs initiated and delivered to students.  Some time ago the FACSEd board produced a cookbook called Cooking With Class and the proceeds have been used to fund scholarships plus provide money to help fund the Best Practice Grants.

This yeart four Best Practice Grants are being awarded-- 

• The first recipient is Amy Friedrichs, who teaches at Monticello High School.  Amy will use the grant funds toward the purchase of chefs mesh top skull caps.  Her FACS department is working diligently to transition their Culinary courses into a more college & career ready focus.  Amy feels that by being able to add the skull caps to their recently purchased chef coats a more professional look would be evident in the learning environment.  Also the chefs skull caps would comply with sanitation requirements of having hair pulled back and secure.

• The second recipient is Lois Lewis, who teaches at Indus School in Birchdale, Minnesota.  Lois plans to use the grant funds to purchase Butane fuel, groceries for practice and competition, supplies, and attire for when her 2 student teams attend the Sysco ProStart Invitational in March.  This preparation and participation in the competition has amazing potential for learning about restaurant management and culinary arts, since students will be practicing many of the things they learned in class. The students are hands-on learners and this experience will greatly reinforce book learning and take them to a new level of application and understanding.  Please keep us informed about your students progress and experience. 

• The third recipient is Ashley Nelson, who teaches in the Milaca Public School District.  Ashley plans to use the grant funds to help defray the FACS department expenses of new equipment for a team taught (FACS and Science departments) Food Chemistry course.  The course will be one semester and meet Minnesota Chemistry graduation standards, as well as, Family and Consumer Science national standards. The equipment purchase will include the Food Chemistry program offered by Nasco FACS.  The kit will help encourage students to explore and apply the composition of food in a way that helps students comprehend and understand chemistry concepts.

• Our fourth Best Practice recipient is Trude Sowada who teaches at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School.  The FACS enrollment is growing so Trude will be teaching a section of Child Development II for the first time this spring.  She has requested Best Practice Grant funds to use toward the purchase of Real Care infant simulators because the current "babies" are more than 8 years old and are beginning to wear out.  Opportunities for experiential learning withReal Care infants prepare students for real life situations and future careers.  Lessons and experiences demonstrate to students the responsibilities, demands, and challenges of caring for an infant.  Students also learn about many aspects of infant development and health care. 

The Minnesota Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (MAFCS) is pleased to sponsor scholarship awards to college/university junior and senior level or graduate students. The purposes of these scholarships are multi-faceted. With these scholarships, it is not only our goal to recognize scholastic achievement, leadership, volunteer service, and professional experience, but to encourage students to continue their study for a degree in Family & Consumer Sciences Education or a Specialization.  These scholarships also provide financial assistance for continuing their studies.

Kailee Heltemes attends MNSU-Mankato and is pursuing a degree in Family & Consumer Sciences Education. She carries a 4.0 GPA and expects to graduate in December, 2017. Kailee calls Mountain Lake, MN home. One of her letters of recommendation stated that "Ms. Heltemes demonstrated an extensive background and interest in education which was indicated by her ability to discuss issues and concerns about Family and Consumer Science freely and enthusiastically. She is an excellent role model and has a very mature approach to classroom management and interaction with her peers and students...she is personable, conscientious, and responsible-- all assets in a teacher candidate"

Kailee's essay statement included "The most meaningful academic experiences I have had would be my field experiences in FCS classrooms...The field experiences have given me a great foundational start on my career path as an educator. I have seen lesson ideas and classroom management strategies that I hope to implement in my own classroom someday" She also states that she loves to bake, cook and sew!

Erica Hauf, is receiving a $500 MAFCS scholarship.  She is a Food, Nutrition, Dietetics major at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.  Erica maintains a 3.8 GPA and plans to graduate Spring 2018.  Erica's hometown is Sabin, Minnesota.  Erica has volunteered at the Dorothy Day Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, and is actively involved in Track & Field and Cross Country.  She has worked as a seasonal pollinator, at a garden center, in food service at Sanford Health, and is currently a kitchen assistant-wait staff employee at RiverPointe Assisted Living.  Erica stated in her essay "from childhood I have been interested in food and nutrition.  After taking a few dietetics courses I knew that I could have a positive impact on families.  My goal is to complete a dietetic internship and take the CDR examination to become a registered dietitian.  My mother taught me to cook starting at a very young age, and as a long distance runner in cross country and track, I am committed to staying healthy and fit."  One of Erica's recommendations stated that "Erica embraces the Concordia mission to become 'responsibility engaged in the world'; she has provided relevant and accurate information while teaching healthy eating for both pre-school children and senior citizens."  Another recommendation stated "Erica's knowledge of nutrition, solid work ethic, and demonstrated involvement in the community are very commendable."

Morgan Frandle, is receiving a $400 MAFCS scholarship.  She is a student at MNSU-Mankato and is planning to graduate Fall 2017 with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education.  Morgan's hometown is Blue Earth, Minnesota. She maintains a 3.70 GPA. She has an diverse employment background--Administrative Clerk in an attorney office, work for an insurance agency, a flower shop, and self employed in home service management. Morgan stated in her essay that "Aside from enjoying every subject within the FACS program, I have strong interests in textiles and design, digital design, photography, baking, cooking, and personal health. FACS was so important to her parents...so week nights were designated for further learning--Monday-culinary, Tuesday-sewing with Grandma (a retired Home Economics teacher), and Wednesday-finance with Dad.  One of her recommendations stated that "she displayed task management and interpersonal relationship skills necessary to thrive in this profession.  Morgan integrated special education modifications into her lessons to meet diverse needs of all students."  Another recommendation states "Morgan is very professional and focuses on being organized and passionate.  I really appreciate the fact that she is looking for the best possible way to teach life skills...I have no doubt that she will be a favored teacher by students, teaching colleagues and community members."

Maggie O'Connor, is receiving a $400 MAFCS scholarship.  She is a student at MNSU-Mankato and is planning to graduate Spring 2018 with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education.  Maggie's hometown is Waterloo, Iowa.  She is self-supporting her out-of-state college tuition expenses.  She maintains a 3.66 GPA.  Maggie serves as Vice President of the MNSU-Mankato Student AAFCS Chapter.  She has an extensive employment history--clothing & flower sales, lifeguard, and currently Community Advisor for MNSU Residential Life. Maggie stated in her essay "I think that Family and Consumer Sciences is a real building block to becoming a well-rounded, independent, and capable young person...I am thrilled for the chance to teach life skills to my future FCS students."  "I want to always bring a smile and thirst for FCS into my future classroom, to help develop my students into being the best they can be".  One of her recommendations stated that "she is one of the most motivational students I have worked with students.  She was very involved with FCS classes in her high school and sought out the MSU, Mankato program specifically to achieve her goal of becoming a FCS teacher."  Another recommendation states "her positive personality and commitment to the field of Family and Consumer Sciences Education are outstanding."

Andrea Steele, is receiving a $375 MAFCS scholarship.  She plans to graduate Spring 2018 with a degree In Family and Consumer Sciences Education from MNSU-Mankato..  Andrea's hometown is New Prague, Minnesota and she is the mother to a young daughter.  She stated in her essay "I have been sewing since I was 10, I am very interested in nutrition and use this information in feeding my family every day...and I cherish learning and developing new skills."   As a teen mom Andrea participated in Responsible Attitudes towards Pregnancy and Parenting (RAPP) and then realized how much she loved being in the classroom and wanted to be in the field of education.  One of Andrea's recommendations stated that "Andrea has shown passion and dedication to the profession of Family and Consumer Sciences...what will make her most effective in the classroom is her genuine compassion for others ...and she demonstrates a great deal of patience which will be especially helpful for working with diverse learners."  Another recommendation stated "in Consumers in the Economy and Family Finance class Andrea demonstrated oral articulateness and proficiency in applying and analyzing course material.  She has also invested a number of hours on outreach related activities."

Melanie Nelson, CEO LearningZoneXpress is sponsoring a Family and Consumer Sciences Education scholarship in memory of her mother, June Nelson. The purpose of the June Nelson Scholarship is to recognize scholastic achievement, leadership, volunteer service, professional experience, and to encourage, plus provide financial assistance, for students to continue their study for a degree in Family & Consumer Sciences Education.

On behalf of Melanie Nelson, MAFCS is pleased to award the June Nelson scholarship to Cassidy Breer.  After a tour and a conversation with Dr. Jill Conlon, Cassidy transferred from Winona State University to MNSU-Mankato to pursue her passion (calling) in Family and Consumer Sciences Education.  She especially likes the areas of Child Development and Family Studies.  Cassidy is from Rushford, Minnesota and the youngest of six children. She has a very commendable 3.77 GPA.  Her recommendation stated that "she is a motivated student as reflected in her high GPA and in her conscientious effort shown in the classroom.  She meets deadlines, is organized...is passionate and committed to her goal of being in a FCS classroom."  Another recommendation stated that "she approaches each day with confidence and positively interacts with those around her--important attributes for a teacher".  Cassidy volunteered to serve as President of the AAFCS Club-MNSU-Mankato Chapter and has done an exceptional job in this role.  In addition, she works part-time as a florist at Hy-Vee and was previously employed as a nanny and evening shift supervisor at Rushford Foods.  Cassidy stated that "Family and Consumer Sciences has been an interest of mine since middle school and I am so excited to be able to share this content with future young people as a FCS teacher."

On behalf of Melanie Nelson, MAFCS is pleased to award the June Nelson scholarship to Kelly Delacruz.  Kelly is from Lake Crystal, Minnesota, a veteran, and a single mom to three children.  She changed her major from Dental Hygiene to Family and Consumer Sciences Education after talking with Dr. Jill Conlon. Thus she is taking summer courses to "catch-up" so she can graduate May 2018.   Kelly is a MNSU-Mankato junior with a commendable 3.88 GPA. Kelly's essay stated that "I am a passionate person who believes in the core values instilled in me while serving: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all I do.  These are the qualities I want my children, and my future students to see in me."   She enjoys sewing, cooking, re-purposing things, traveling, and helping people.  Kelly has a strong compassion for others through real life experiences--While stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, she helped organize disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and in Misawa, Japan after the earth quake and tsunami in 2011. A letter of recommendation stated that "she has an exceptionally strong work ethic...excellent communication and interaction skills...positive attitude...a high level of dedication to her success with her career and family.  This is what FCS is all about-individuals, families and communities reaching their highest potential."