Sandra Cecelski, Marine Science Academy instructor and instructor at Ashley High School, is the recipient of this year’s Pelican Award from the N.C. Coastal Federation (NCCF).

The award, which recognizes “exceptional dedication to and leadership in coastal environmental education,” according to a news release. Cecelski was specifically cited for her role in launching “Students Restoring Community Creeks,” a New Hanover County Schools’ storm water education program to engage ninth grade earth and environmental science students in service learning projects that focus on the health of their community waterways, according to the release.

Cecelski was also recently selected as one of 24 educators from across the nation and Canada, and from the U.S. Department of Defense schools throughout the world, to take part in the prestigious Maury Project, the release stated. This project, started by the American Meteorological Society and conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Academy, aims to enhance oceanography teacher effectiveness.  The release stated that Cecelski participated in the project’s most recent training session, which included research excursions on a U.S. Naval Academy vessel and field trips to the Global Climate Data Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center.

Cecelski will teach a Maury Project course at the University of North Carolina Wilmington through the Watson School of Education. All training programs and courses she teaches meet earth/environmental science N.C. Essential Standards for both high school earth science and middle school sciences, the release stated.