Westfield State graduate receives national recognition

Date: 12/22/2008

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WESTFIELD Every year, the National Education Association (NEA) recognizes 12 students nationwide for outstanding contributions within the field.

Westfield State College (WSC) May 2008 graduate Sarah Odachowski was recognized as Outstanding State Student Leader for her work as president of WSC's NEA Student Program as well as her two-year service as a member of the NEA Advisory Committee of Student Members.

"She beat out leaders from state affiliates with much larger state student programs," Kimberly Anderson, organizational specialist with the NEA in Washington, D.C., said. "We are very proud of her."

Odachowski said being honored with this award was unexpected. "The past recipients of this award were outstanding and to be recognized with them was a huge honor," she added.

Odachowski was nominated for the award by WSC's NEA Student Program Advisor Ken Haar, also professor of Education and Computer and Information Science and Robert Whalen of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

"She's just one of those people who has tremendous ideas and [the] ability to follow through and make things happen," Haar said in an interview with Reminder Publications. "Sarah really does have a little something extra and did take things [within WSC's NEA Student Program] to another level."

He explained that he chose to nominate Odachowski for the national recognition based on her dedication to the organization and her ability to bring students together for a cause. He noted that she organized a program called "Outreach to Teach" in memory of her friend and fellow WSC education major, Elizabeth Connolly, who died in an on-campus accident in 2007. Hundreds of volunteers participated in the event earlier this year, which raised $12,000 for a daylong landscaping project at Walter J. Paton School in Shrewsbury where Connolly hoped to teach alongside her mother which created a garden in her memory.

"We put our heart and soul into the project because it was so close to our hearts," Odachowski said. "We are extremely proud of how it turned out and know that Liz will always be remembered through this project."

Odachowski is now a second grade teacher at Parklawn Elementary School in Virginia.

"I chose to become an educator because I always knew that I wanted to work with children," she explained. "Teaching is so rewarding and although the hours can be long I feel like I have truly made an impact in the lives of children. It is a very demanding job, but I love it and my 19 second graders make it so worthwhile!"

Haar said he was sad to see Odachowski graduate last May but added that he is not surprised by her success.

"Anything Sarah does she's going to be successful at," he said. "She's one of those rare people who not only has drive and ambition but a tremendous compassion [and ability] to provide the wants and needs of others ... as an educator that's a tremendous skill."