Back to News 
First event to be held at Fairmont’s Nov. 21 Blue Ribbon celebration
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Nov. 17, 2011) — Milligan College will kick off its new “Excellence in Education” initiative on Monday, Nov. 21, at 1:30 p.m. at Fairmont Elementary School in Johnson City, Tenn. The event is a celebration of Fairmont’s status as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Milligan’s Excellence in Education program is designed to recognize the successes of area schools and educators and to partner with them to continue the tradition of excellence.
“Celebrating Fairmont’s Blue Ribbon status is the perfect start for Milligan’s Excellence in Education,” said Dr. Lyn Howell, chair of the education area at Milligan. “Milligan’s undergraduate and graduate programs in education are preparing future teachers for careers in the classroom. So it’s fitting that we partner with area schools to recognize the great things happening there.”
Fairmont was one of only two elementary schools in Tennessee to be named a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve at very high levels or where the achievement gap is narrowing. The program is part of a larger U.S. Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices.
“We are honored to be named a Blue Ribbon School,” said Fairmont Principal Carol McGill. “This celebration is an opportunity to recognize the hard work of all of our students and teachers.”
The Nov. 21 event will include an ice cream party, sponsored by Blue Bell Ice Cream. Milligan will present a banner to display at Fairmont, and each student and teacher also will receive a blue ribbon designating the school’s Blue Ribbon status. Members of Milligan’s cheerleading squad and dance team will attend to applaud the school’s accomplishments and lead the students in a Fairmont “Blue Ribbon” cheer.
The Fairmont celebration is the first of several Excellence in Education events Milligan will sponsor throughout the community in the coming months. In December, Milligan’s undergraduate education students will present their research at Woodland Elementary in Johnson City.
Milligan’s M.Ed. program offers both initial licensure and advanced program options. The initial licensure allows students to complete their master’s degree and teaching licensure in as few as 14 months; while the advanced program, which is available fully online or in a traditional face-to-face classroom setting, is for already-licensed teachers who want to add endorsement areas or prepare for board certification.
“Milligan’s education programs are preparing men and women to make a difference in our schools,” Howell said. “It’s important to applaud those who are already out there, making an impact every day. That’s what we hope to do with Excellence in Education.”
To learn more about Milligan’s Excellence in Education program, contact Shannon Castillo at skcastillo@milligan.edu. For more information about Milligan’s M.Ed. program, contact Jan Loveday at jloveday@milligan.edu.