Nancy Colgan receives Outstanding Agricultural Teacher Award

WARWICK-Nancy Colgan, a Warwick Valley High School teacher for the past nine years, has been selected as the Outstanding Senior Agricultural Education Teacher for 2004. Colgan has taken a modest program and made it one of the largest in the state. In her first year of teaching at Warwick, she had a total of 52 agriculture students. This coming year over 250 students signed up to take at least one Agricultural Technology class. Students now have the opportunity to take a variety of courses including agricultural mechanics, animal and horse science, landscape design and floral design. Each year the Agricultural Educators from across New York meet for a professional development conference. This year's conference was held in late June in Cobleskill. During the conference, the New York Association of Agricultural Educators (NYAAE) held its annual awards banquet. This banquet recognizes those teaching professionals who have demonstrated exceptional teaching during their careers. Understanding the need for well-rounded students, Colgan makes a concerted effort to offer them opportunities to participate in activities outside the classroom environment as well. She and her students have worked on various projects with students in each of the elementary schools, the middle school, and high school. She has been involved with Warwick in Bloom and has an excellent working relationship with the Farmers Market and many of the local agribusinesses. Her students have reaped the benefits of these relationships with work and volunteer opportunities that have enhanced their life experiences. As the advisor to the FFA, Colgan has provided students with the opportunity to learn leadership skills that they can apply throughout their lives. During the past two years the Warwick Valley chapter has produced two state officers and a second place state parliamentary procedure team. The chapter is now one of the 10 largest in the state, with over 100 members. Colgan said she has enjoyed the challenges of teaching and advising students and credits God, family, and a supportive community and school for her success. As the Outstanding Senior Teacher, Colgan will represent New York agricultural education at the regional and possibly the national events of the National Assoc