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VCSU alumni Gjovik and Hatt win ACTE national awards

Nov 29, 2018

Peder Gjovik ’77 and Katie Hatt M.Ed. ’16 won national awards at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) national conference, CareerTech VISION 2018, in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 28.

Gjovik, associate professor and chair of the VCSU Department of Technology, was named ACTE 2019 Teacher Educator of the Year. Hatt, health careers instructor in the Grand Forks (N.D.) Public Schools and the Grand Forks Area Career and Technology Center, was named ACTE 2019 New Teacher of the Year.

The Teacher Educator of the Year award recognizes teacher educators who have demonstrated innovation in teacher education, leadership in improving Career and Technical Education (CTE) and commitment to preparing teachers to deliver high-quality CTE programs.

The New Teacher of the Year award recognizes new CTE teachers who have made significant contributions toward innovative and unique career and technical education programs and shown a professional commitment early in their careers.

Gjovik’s recent work includes helping establish accelerated pathways to bachelor’s degrees and teaching credentials for graduates of North Dakota two-year colleges who hold technical-specialty degrees. He is currently involved in development of an online course to fulfill student-teaching requirements for distance technical-education candidates.

Gjovik joined VCSU as an adjunct instructor in 2006 and began his full-time teaching career at the university in 2008. He was named department chair in 2014. His previous experience includes teaching in a two-year college graphics program for 21 years, teaching industrial technology for grades 7–12, and owning and operating several printing and graphics businesses.

He holds a doctorate in occupational and adult education from North Dakota State University, a master’s degree in industrial technology from the University of North Dakota, a bachelor’s degree in industrial education from VCSU, and an associate degree in liberal arts from Lake Region State College. Gjovik serves on the North Dakota Technology and Engineering Educators Association Board of Directors.

Hatt holds a VCSU master of education degree with a technology education concentration. Gjovik served as her advisor in the master’s program. Hatt, who also holds a nursing degree from the University of North Dakota, obtained her initial teaching credentials through VCSU’s Transition to Teaching program.

A release from the Grand Forks Public Schools (Nov. 20, 2018) notes that “Hatt teaches her courses through a virtual center, but makes it possible to meet face-to-face with each school weekly to complete hands-on skill labs. Hatt has also developed partnerships with the health care providers within each community to provide students with a clinical experience as part of the course. …Hatt currently provides instruction to students in Grand Forks, Central Valley, Hatton, Hillsboro, May-Port CG, Northwood, Thompson, Carrington, and New Rockford-Sheyenne.”