Richard J. Comeau and Robyn P. Viloria to Receive the SAE Gary Dickinson Award for Teaching Excellence

Warrendale, PA , January 7, 2005 - Richard J. Comeau, teacher at the William Diamond Middle School, and Robyn P. Viloria, former Middle School Outreach Technology Specialist for Minuteman Regional High School, have been selected to receive the 2004 SAE Gary Dickinson Award for Teaching Excellence. The award presentation is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2005 in conjunction with a faculty meeting at the middle school, located at 99 Hancock Street in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Established in 2001, this award annually recognizes an outstanding middle school teacher and his or her school for the best use of the SAE Foundation's A World In Motion: Challenges 2, 3 or 4 (AWIM) curriculum to further develop students' interest in math and science. It commemorates the life of Gary Dickinson, an automotive industry leader and long-time supporter of both SAE and its AWIM program. A monetary gift of $2,000, intended to be divided equally between the teacher and the middle school, accompanies the award.

A World In Motion was developed by SAE in 1990 and targets fourth through tenth grade students in an effort to develop increased interest in math and science. Applicants for the Dickinson Award are judged on the amount of effort they put into AWIM, the quality of the teacher/volunteer partnership, and the quality of the students' experiences.

Comeau has been teaching middle school science for more than twenty years. During his career, he has worked to integrate educational technologies in the classroom through the TERC Star Schools initiative and Reach for the Stars with the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Technologies (MCET). Additionally, as a science facilitator Comeau has worked with schools throughout the Northeast implementing exemplary science curricula developed through the National Science Foundation. He currently teaches sixth grade science and engineering. Comeau holds a bachelor's degree from Holy Cross College and a Master's in Science Education from Boston University. He has completed doctoral level course work through the University of New Hampshire and Lesley University.

Viloria recently became the instructional technology specialist for Lexington Public Schools where she helps teachers develop technology-based learning experiences for middle school students. Previously, she taught journalism and multimedia classes at the Media and Technology Charter High School in Boston. Her background includes a 10-year career in educational television and film. Viloria holds a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Drake University and a master's degree in education technology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.