Oakland University Assistant Professor of Education Shannon Flumerfelt received the Oakland University Educator Award at the Sunrise Pinnacle Awards program, sponsored by the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The program, held Thursday, Oct. 25, honored the area’s visionary entrepreneurs, business and civic leaders, educators and exemplary corporate citizens.

The OU Educator Award recognizes an educator in the greater Rochester area (kindergarten through post-graduate) who has developed innovative programming showing measurable results in raising student subject enthusiasm and achievement.    

Flumerfelt introduced OU’s first online Educational Specialist degree program, held entirely online through real-time chats, discussion boards and e-mail.

Nominated by Christina Ostrander, SEHS ’07, on behalf of Flumerfelt’s first online cohort, she wrote in the nomination, “Dr. Flumerfelt has exhibited the pinnacle of leadership as a professor and leader in the Educational Specialist program. Her ability to incorporate the ideas and dreams of individual students’ aspirations into theory and practice as it relates to the education profession is profound.”

The first Educational Specialist cohort graduated in August 2007. Flumerfelt introduced the program because she believes it is important for educators to provide learning experiences that are relevant for Oakland students and their future professional settings.

“This award is very special to me because it represents a milestone for me as an educator,” said Flumerfelt. “I took a professional risk in creating this first online cohort based on our well-established, very popular and highly reputable onsite Education Specialist degree program. I wanted to represent Oakland University, the School of Education and Human Services and the Department of Educational Leadership well in this new space and to establish a solid presence for the university in online degree programming for the Education Specialist degree.” 

Oakland University is a proud partner of the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Education is the foundation of a strong community, and we are pleased to honor a deserving professional through the OU Educator Award,” said Sheri Heiney, executive director, Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce.