Melissa Braun
Gillett Secondary School
Gillett, Wisconsin
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and the American Farm Bureau Federation are honored to have awarded the achievements of the 2011 $10,000 Agriscience Educator’s Award Columbus Scholar.
Melissa Braun’s passion for agriculture has always been a part of her life, as she was raised on a dairy farm in northeast Wisconsin. After teaching agriscience to students in grades 7-12 for the last eight years, this Fall she begins a new venture at Shawano High School in the agriculture department.
Melissa teaches a wide array of agriscience courses, but has a great interest in the areas of food science, horticulture, and greenhouse management. Her teaching includes many hands-on activities and field trips to reinforce the scientific principles throughout her lessons. Her students succeed because of their immersion in the complete agricultural education model which involves all three components: classroom instruction, FFA involvement, and a Supervised Agricultural Experience project.
Melissa is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, River Falls with degrees in agricultural education and agricultural marketing communications.
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have had the assistance of the following distinguished individuals serving on the 2011 Agriscience Awards Evaluation Committee:
- Robert W. Clark, Ph.D.
Professional Personnel Development Center
Workforce Education & Development Program
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania - Gary Matteson
VP Young, Beginning, Small Farmer
Programs and Outreach
The Farm Credit Council
Washington, D.C. - Meghan Mueseler
Cargill, Inc.
Wichita, Kansas - Pat Earle
Instructor
McBee High School
McBee, South Carolina
