MU Alum, Student Honored with Lancaster STEM Alliance Awards

The Lancaster County STEM Alliance held its annual Excellence in Education Reception & Awards Ceremony on Nov. 7 at Millersville University, bringing together educators, leaders and students to recognize outstanding impact in local schools. The event highlighted the work of teachers across Lancaster County and celebrated the next generation of educators preparing to enter the field.

Lauren Miller, executive director of the Alliance, opened the program by emphasizing the lasting influence of teachers and the power of education to shape communities. She thanked Millersville University for its ongoing commitment to preparing future educators and introduced President Daniel Wubah, who welcomed attendees and reaffirmed the University's partnership with the STEM Alliance.

The ceremony also featured keynote speaker Dr. Alessandra Landini, a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at Millersville from Reggio Emilia, Italy. Landini, an international leader in early childhood education, is spending the academic year collaborating with Millersville faculty on curriculum development, teaching, community outreach and research connected to innovative approaches to learning.

Rebecca Hahn

Current Millersville technology and engineering education major Rebecca Hahn received the Outstanding Pre-Service Teacher Award for her hands-on, instructional work at Warwick Middle School. Hahn designed projects in which students built pneumatic systems for VEX robots, explored electrical circuits and applied coding and problem-solving skills to real-world challenges. Hahn says, "Receiving the Outstanding Pre-Service Teacher Award is incredibly meaningful to me. Personally, it reaffirms that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be."

She believes that her goal as an educator is not only to teach future engineers but also to help every student find joy in learning. She adds, "Hands-on, inquiry-based learning allows students to take ownership of their work, make mistakes and figure things out in real time. It sparks curiosity and confidence, and it shows students that education isn't just about getting the right answer - it's about the process of discovering how things work and why."

Dr. Todd Mealy '01

Millersville alumnus Dr. Todd Mealy was recognized with the Community Connector Award for his work at McCaskey High School, where he teaches the County's first Advanced Placement African American studies course and leads students in the Witness Stones Project, a community-history initiative honoring enslaved individuals through research and public memorials. Mealy says the recognition is meaningful not only to him but also to the students who shaped the work behind the award. "This award is as much of my students' honor as it is mine," he says. "Personally, I'm humbled by being recognized by my alma mater. I received my bachelor's degree in May 2001. I absolutely loved my four years there… To receive an education award from Millersville is something that makes me very proud."

He has seen firsthand how AP African American Studies has broadened opportunities for students and increased engagement across the school. "There is a demand for the course among the students and caregivers in the city," Mealy says, noting that studies show ethnic studies courses boost achievement. "My students… have participated in more opportunities offered at the school - student clubs and guest speakers. They've also become better academics. They've taken the research, writing and presentation skills taught in AP African American Studies and applied those to other classes they're taking at McCaskey."

The Alliance develops teacher training, educator externships and community-connected STEM programs across Lancaster County. "Because when we support teachers - when we give them the tools, the connections and the recognition they deserve - we strengthen our entire community," Miller told attendees.

The event concluded by honoring educators and Millersville students from the Technology & Engineering Education Collegiate Association, who designed and crafted the awards presented during the ceremony. As the event closed, Miller encouraged attendees to continue uplifting educators who "help students discover who they are, what they're capable of and what they might become."