Michigan Lottery Connect

Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli, presents Liz Younglove with her Excellence in Education check.

An Osceola County educator who is known for her dedication to students and innovative teaching methods has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Liz Younglove, is a K-5 Literacy Coach at Pine River Area Elementary. The school is part of Pine River Area Schools.

The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence In Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding public-school educators across the state during the school year.

Winners of the weekly award receive a $2,000 cash prize. At the end of the school year, one of the weekly award winners will be selected to receive the Lottery’s Educator of the Year award and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Each winner also is featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner stations: WXYZ-TV in Detroit, FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, FOX 47 in Lansing, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Younglove will air this evening.

“Ms. Younglove’s commitment to fostering learning in her students with an innovative and compassionate approach makes her an ideal candidate for the Excellence in Education award,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “Her calming presence and hands-on activities create unforgettable learning experiences for her students.”

Younglove said she always wanted to work with children, but volunteer work steered her to a career in education.

“I come from a family of people that all work with children and when I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to work with children in some way. My dad and brothers all worked in kids’ ministry and my mom and sisters all worked in public education, but I wasn’t sure what that would look like for me. After volunteering for different organizations like Special Olympics in college I decided to follow my mom and sisters and get an education degree.”

Younglove was nominated for the award by her principal.

“Liz Younglove is an outstanding educator who exemplifies excellence in education through her unwavering dedication to her students and her innovative teaching methods. She is deeply motivated to support all her young learners, ensuring that each child feels valued, engaged, and inspired in the classroom. Her passion for education is evident in her daily interactions with students and colleagues alike. Liz demonstrates exceptional compassion and patience with struggling students. She approaches challenges with grace and determination, always looking for new ways to connect with her students and help them succeed. Her ability to adapt to the diverse needs of her classroom ensures that every child feels supported and encouraged, regardless of their individual learning styles or struggles. Liz consistently goes above and beyond her duties as a teacher. She is a leader among her colleagues, fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment. Her enthusiasm and commitment to education inspire those around her, making her team stronger every day. Liz’s ability to uplift her peers and enhance the overall learning environment is a testament to her dedication and professionalism. Her motivation, creativity, compassion, and leadership make a profound impact on her students and colleagues alike.”

Younglove earned a bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University. She has been an educator for six years and started a new role this school year.

Excellence in Education award nominees are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Excellence – Their work consistently helps students and/or their schools or school districts advance to higher levels of academic achievement.
• Dedication – They consistently go above and beyond expectations to help students succeed.
• Inspiration – Their work inspires others around them to exceed expectations either academically or professionally.
• Leadership – They demonstrate clear leadership skills in their positions with their school or school districts.
• Effectiveness – The nominee’s work has clear and positive results on the educational advancement of students within the school or school district.

Lottery Commissioner, Suzanna Shkreli, presents Kimberly Stevenson with her Excellence in Education check.

A Wayne County educator who is known for building lasting relationships with her students has been honored with an Excellence In Education award from the Michigan Lottery.

The award winner, Kimberly Stevenson, is a high school science teacher at Davis Aerospace Technical High School. The school is part of Detroit Public Schools.

The Michigan Lottery established the Excellence In Education awards in 2014 to recognize outstanding public-school educators across the state during the school year.

Winners of the weekly award receive a $2,000 cash prize. At the end of the school year, one of the weekly award winners will be selected to receive the Lottery’s Educator of the Year award and will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Each winner also is featured in a news segment on the Lottery’s media partner stations: WXYZ-TV in Detroit, FOX 17 in Grand Rapids, FOX 47 in Lansing, WLUC in Marquette, WNEM-TV in Saginaw, and WWTV-TV in Traverse City. The news segment featuring Stevenson will air this evening.

“Ms. Stevenson’s illustrious career in education spans more than three decades, during which she has had a profound impact on her students,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli. “It’s clear she has a passion for science and learning that she has successfully instilled in her students.”

Stevenson said she comes from a family of educators and that inspired her to become an educator.

“Education was always important in my family. My mother was an educator for more than 40 years in the same school district. After graduating from college, I began as a substitute teacher in secondary education. When our district offered an alternative pathway to certification and a master’s degree, I jumped at the chance to secure and complete my credentials in education. I feel like I have a duty and a responsibility to our students to give them the best education possible. I was very fortunate to be raised in an environment that emphasized the importance and benefits of getting a good education and feel privileged to share that with my students.”

Stevenson was nominated for the award by a colleague.

“Kimberly Stevenson has been a dedicated high school science teacher in the Detroit Public Schools Community District for more than 25 years. Presently, she is a science teacher at Davis Aerospace Technical High School. Davis Aerospace promotes aerospace and aviation science and gives students experience with flight simulators, drones, and aviation mechanics. In addition to teaching, she has worn several other hats as an educator. She was the facilitator for the STEM 2035 Eco-Justice Club and sponsored the robotics, science fair and speech club. She also chaperoned a group of students to the Michigan Youth in Government conference in Lansing. She was the director of the Green Team and championed other causes such as sustainability and recycling in celebration of Earth Day. She and her students also planted trees in the community with the Greening of Detroit organization. The most exciting opportunity she had was when she chaperoned a group of students for four weeks during an overseas trip to Italy. What is most rewarding as an educator is how amazing it is to see the students move forward into adulthood and mature and grow and become positive contributors to society. Teaching has given Kimberly an unmatched level of knowledge, leadership, and professionalism as well as the ability to overcome any challenge.”

Stevenson earned a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University and a master’s degree from Wayne State University. She has been an educator for 33 years, the last six in her current position.

Excellence in Education award nominees are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Excellence – Their work consistently helps students and/or their schools or school districts advance to higher levels of academic achievement.
• Dedication – They consistently go above and beyond expectations to help students succeed.
• Inspiration – Their work inspires others around them to exceed expectations either academically or professionally.
• Leadership – They demonstrate clear leadership skills in their positions with their school or school districts.
• Effectiveness – The nominee’s work has clear and positive results on the educational advancement of students within the school or school district.