Candace Marcotte Named Chancellor’s Medallion Winner

Candace Aries Marcotte, who will receive her degree in Elementary Education on May 3, 2009 has been selected as the Chancellor’s Medallion winner for the Winter, 2009 semester.

Earning a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in Language Arts and minor in Integrated Science will allow her to mentor others as the University of Michigan-Dearborn professors have mentored her. Candace indicates that “it has been my priority and goal to graduate with high distinction and achieving this milestone further drives me to embrace the opportunity of receiving my Master’s Degree.”

Candace has excelled while a student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She received an Emerging Student Leadership Award in 2008 and was inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society, which acknowledges the top 15% of the upperclassmen in each academic unit. Candace has been included on the Dean’s list five times. Candace was awarded the Distinguished Student Leadership Scholarship, which provided full tuition. Her education has also been supplemented with the following scholarships: MEAP Merit, Belleville Rotary Club, South Middle School, and Burger King. She is also a nominee for the Michigan Campus Compact Volunteer Award, which recognizes college students in Michigan for their commitment to community service.

Education is not only limited to the classroom, it also allows individuals to share lessons as a part of the campus community. Dr. Kirsten Dara Hill allowed Candace to take part in her research concerning student perspectives on practicum placement in urban settings. Discussing her experiences allowed her to reflect on the coursework and draw conclusions to various aspects of higher level education. Candace is currently student teaching at Amerman Elementary in the Northville School District. Candace was instrumental in helping launch the formation of a chapter of the Student Michigan Education Association at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Serving as president for the past three years has created many priceless opportunities for networking, professional development, and promoting the School of Education. She has also served as the Public Relations Specialist of Pi Lambda Theta for the past three years. During this time she was able to serve as a coordinator of the “Grand Slam for Education,” which fundraised for inner-city public schools in Michigan. Candace also coordinated literacy events for Vista Maria and a partnership with Beyond Basics, providing volunteers for their literacy enrichment program. For the past two years, Candace has served on the Mardigian Library Student Advisory Committee and has bridged the gap in communication, relaying the needs of the students to the library. Campus spirit has been important to Candace, as she has been a member of the Wolf Pack for two years. She has also been the first Captain of the U of M-Dearborn Cheerleading Team. Candace has volunteered as an intramural sports coach, competitive cheerleading coach, assistant athletic director, and costume designer for drama productions at local schools.

In asking Candace to reflect on her University of Michigan-Dearborn experience, she replies: “My educational career at U of M-Dearborn has surpassed all of my expectations. Therefore, I plan on receiving my Master’s Degree in Special Education on our campus. I have worked at Bay Cliff Health Camp, a summer camp for children with special needs and disabilities, for the past three summers. It was a life-altering experience and has provided me with the insight necessary to focus on such a dream. Thank you for considering me for this honor and allowing me to share a remarkable time in my life. Go Blue!”