The Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce announced this week that Patrick Verdun was named the Educator of the Year at the chamber's annual Community Awards Gala.
About Mr. Verdun
Verdun is a Career and Technical Education Teacher at Newberg High School. He guides student leaders in running Tiger Manufacturing, a student-driven business offering a hands-on educational experience that prepares students for post-high school life.
The Chamber posted this announcement about him: "Mr. Verdun's commitment to fostering a unique and engaging educational environment goes beyond traditional classroom learning. The integration of real-world tasks, from managing customer orders to handling payroll, not only enhances students' technical abilities but also instills a sense of responsibility and professionalism. Tiger Manufacturing has been operating successfully for six years, which speaks volumes about the positive influence it has had on students, leaving them well-prepared for their future careers. Once again, congratulations to Mr. Patrick Verdun for this well-deserved recognition as the Educator of the Year!"
About the Award
The Chamber describes winners of this recognition as those who connect "with their students to help guide them to their highest potential. They instill a strong work ethic, leadership qualities, and kindness, while at the same time motivating and challenging their students to achieve success. This can be an educator in the traditional academic sense or any non-traditional educational setting. We want to know about someone who has impacted any number of students in our community."
Anyone can nominate someone, and recipients are decided upon by a selection committee, which consists of business owners and community members, said Maryl Kunkel, Director of Operations of the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce.