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In November, Dr. Sven. P. Strnad, who earned his teaching certificate from ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø's School of Education, will receive the President's Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Primary Education from the Entomological Foundation. The award recognizes educators who have gone beyond the traditional teaching methods by using insects as educational tools in grades K-6.

Dr. Strnad who was born in Sweden, earned his bachelor's degree in biology (emphasis in ecology, evolution, and systematics) from Cornell University in 1974, a master's degree in entomology from the University of Maine in 1982, and a doctorate in entomology from Purdue.  After obtaining his elementary teaching certificate from ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø, he went on to pursue teaching. He now is a national board-certified fifth-grade teacher at Millstone River School in the West Windsor—Plainsboro School District in New Jersey.

As a professional entomologist turned teacher, he runs a classroom that is a combination of books and bugs. He co-teaches with Dr. Vickie Gurzau, M.A. ’05, also a former ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½¹ÙÍø student, and their room resembles a nature center. He uses bugs, snakes and other creatures to appeal to his 5th graders. He has also worked to obtain grants and donations to allow every single student to have her or his own insect-collecting kit. When the weather is warmer, they can be found outside, searching among the swing sets for insects and taking part in a yearly field project centered  around n some aspect of the feeding behavior of the American carrion beetle. Insects are also incorporated into other areas of study. 

The award will be presented at Entomology 2015, the Entomological Society of American's 63rd annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minn., from Nov. 15 to 18.