LVR teacher Angie McTague receives prestigious McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award
By Nelson Daily Staff
Angie McTague of L.V. Rogers High School in Nelson was one of two teachers honoured with the prestigious UBC Engineering’s McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award.
Gordon Trousdell of West Vancouver Secondary School was honoured with the award posthumously.
McTague, who has been on staff at LVR since the mid-2000 after coming to the Fairview school from Trafalgar Middle School, was nominated by UBC Engineering student Carli Hall (Chemical and Biological Engineering) and supported by Lindsay Jennings (Civil Engineering) and Tegan Hansen-Hoedeman for consistently bringing the curriculum to life to engage her students.
“The part of this prize that has touched me the most was being nominated,” said McTague, who teaches Physics and Science at LVR.
“I have had the privilege of watching my nominator and her conspirators grow up. It has given me great joy to watch them move from awkward teens to intelligent, capable and strong young people.”
The award encourages students to reflect on the impact their teachers have on their success and provides financial support for both teachers and students to continue their efforts.
“We are “very” proud of Angie and this award,” said LVR Vice-Principal Tim Mushumanski.
“Angie shows the kind of dedication and commitment that her students will remember forever.
“We are very lucky to have her,” Mushumanski adds.
The nominating team said McTague takes her physics students on a field-trip to visit Silverwood Theme Park near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where they predict and calculate the acceleration of rollercoasters and estimate G-forces.
A strong advocate of post-secondary education, McTague helped one of her students obtain a full scholarship to the University of Toronto.
And each year McTague drives more than eight hours with a busload of students from Nelson to Vancouver, BC to attend UBC Engineering’s Open House.
The information on the nomination form doesn’t surprise Mushumanski, who says “Angie gives everything to her students.”
“I don’t think that she even stops for lunch on most days,” Mushumanski added.
“She is one of the most dedicated teachers I have worked with. She will always find a way to help students learn even when the obstacles seem insurmountable.
“She expects a great deal from her students and gives back ten times that amount to them.”
Presented annually by UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science, the award was established by Dr. James McEwen (BASc ’71, PhD ‘75), P.Eng., and his family to celebrate teachers and their influence on students both academically and personally.
