Centauri High School Teacher Honored as Colorado Outstanding Biology Teacher

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Golden, Colo., May 2, 1997 -- Tracy Swedlund, biology teacher at Centauri High School in LaJara, was selected as Colorado's 1997 Outstanding Biology Teacher and will be recognized by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT). NABT honors exemplary biology and life science middle and high school educators nationwide. Criteria include teaching ability, creativity, team spirit, initiative and involvement in the community.

Swedlund will receive cash stipends from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Midwest Research Institute, Amgen, Blue Spruce Biological Supply, the Colorado Biology Teachers Association and Greg Isbill.

Swedlund was selected for his high energy, contagious enthusiasm and commitment to his profession and students. He displays dedication, creativity and ingenuity in a hands-on biology curriculum that enables students to integrate biology into their lives. "His classes include everyone," one of his students said. "He makes complicated material easy to understand." For more information, contact Raylene Owen, program director for the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award, at (303) 486-2472.

Swedlund will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the Colorado Biology Teachers Association's Spring Workshop on Saturday, May 3 at 10:00 a.m. at the Denver Zoo and again at NABT's convention in Minneapolis, Minn. in October. He will receive prizes donated by Prentice Hall, Leica, Inc., Johns Manville, the Anderson Microscope Co., Carolina Biological Supply, the DK Learning Center and the Denver Instrument Company.

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