Mel Horton ’85 – Health & Physical Education

Mel Horton was named college teacher of the year for 2004 by the South Carolina Association for Physical Education and Sport. She has been praised by her colleagues as “an innovative, creative, reflective, versatile, effective teacher” and a “rare individual who ‘lights up’ a classroom.” In addition to her teaching, she writes extensively and speaks at state and national conferences.

Chip Nataro ’91 - Chemistry

In May 2004, Chip Nataro, assistant professor of chemistry at Lafayette College, was awarded the Delta Upsilon Distinguished Mentoring and Teaching Award. Created in 2000, the award recognizes faculty members for extraordinary teaching through mentoring, which includes advising, undergraduate research and independent study, among other activities. Nataro opens his life to his students, even hosting an annual reunion for his research students at Thanksgiving.

Julie (Aucker ’96) Stefanski – Nutrition & Dietetics

Julie Stefanski received the 2004 Recognized Young Dietician of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Dietetic Association and the American Dietetic Association. She is chief dietitian at Memorial Hospital, York, Pa., and is also an adjunct professor at York College. She is very active in the Pennsylvania Dietetic Association and serves as its legislation chair to both state and federal levels of government. She is a certified diabetes educator and has been published in Today’s Dietitian.

Tonya (Watts ’86) Brown – Recreation

Tonya Brown was one of eight people in the nation to receive the Young Professionals Fellowship Award from the National Recreation and Parks Association. The award recognizes certified professionals with less than 10 years full-time experience who have made strides in improving their community through grants, planning, and education. Brown is recreation director for the Mechanicsburg, Upper Allen Township, and Shiremanstown communities.