2000 NCSTA Award Winners

The Vi Hunsucker Award The Outstanding Science Educator of North Carolina

Ann Watkins

Ann Watkins is a science teacher at Brewster Middle School at Camp Lejeune, NC where over the last 20 years she has taught 7th grade life science, 8th grade earth science, and now 7th grade intergrated science and geography. She also was out of the classroom for a year to serve as science/math coordinator. Before coming to Brewster, Ann taught at Salisbury High School and Eastern Alamance High School. For 3 years Ann directed the NC Energy Conservation Education Program through NCDPI. Ann has been a member of NCSTA for 26 years and has served this organization through committee work or as an officer for 25 of these years. Starting as Program committee secretary, she has also served as Awards chair, Local Arrangements chair for the state conference in Raleigh, President, chair of the Long Range Planning committee, Speaker chair, and again Awards chair. "When the Vi Hunsucker Award was set up, it was to be the highest award that NCSTA gives and the recipient has to exhibit characteristics that are very exceptional. Ann Watkins exhibits these characteristics. She has worked diligently for NCSTA as a board member for over 20 years. She was President of the organization during its growth years and steered it in the right direction. Ann has also been chair of the awards committee at the beginning and again for the last 5 years. She has turned a sort of sleepy program into one of distinguished recognition. She has the tenacity to keep after the membership to nominate candidates for the awards and has increased nominations over 100%. She has the characteristics of strict professionalism, of getting the job done well and does not settle for anything short of excellence. Her work and dedication to NCSTA have helped it become one of the premier science teachers' chapters in the nation. This and her other qualities make her a most suitable candidate for this award.