Indiana State University Newsroom

When 1998 Indiana State University business education graduate Jen Schulz accepted the Teacher of the Year award at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, she wasn't surprised to see her former Indiana State advisor among those sharing in her achievement.

"You can only get the award one-time so it was fitting for Dr. Adams to be there, since she's been there for every other award I've received," said Schulz, who has taught in business department of Indiana's second largest high school since 2002. "I was a little shocked to learn I had received the award after being nominated for it before. It was humbling to have a large portion of your peers think highly enough of you to vote for you, especially since Ben Davis is such a large high school."

Having served for four years as Schulz' academic advisor at Indiana State, Mary Ellen Adams, professor emerita in the Scott College of Business, has continued to stay in contact with Schulz and followed her achievements since graduation. Those accomplishments are many, and include the Indiana State GOLD (Graduate of the Last Decade) Award, the National Business Education Association Award of Merit and the North Central Business Education Association Distinguished Service Award as Emerging Professional of the Year.

Schulz has also remained an active alumna, serving as a presenter for the Business Education Clinic and working with Networks Financial Institute's K-12 Financial Literacy Task Force in 2003 and as an inaugural member of the Scott College Young Professionals Board when it began in 2008.

She has also served as president of the Indiana Business Education Association from 2002-04.

"I'm not surprised that she got the award because she's inspiring to me," Adams said. "Jen e-mailed me after she learned she'd received the award, and I knew I would be there to see her accept it because I've been present at probably every award presentation she's been a recipient at. Jen's done well and, as a teacher, you want to see your students go on to do great things."

Schulz's ability to achieve so much in her field, Adams said, is due to a combination of things - knowledge of content area, enthusiasm, being responsible and striving to always be better.

"Jen has a sparkling personality and she's energetic, like teachers need to be in the classroom for their students," Adams said. "She's already a great teacher, but she still continues to look for ways she can do better and sets high standards for herself, and I would imagine that she does the same for her students."

Writer: Betsy Simon, media relations assistant director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-7972 or betsy.simon@indstate.edu