GMU Principal Heather Wilcox and School Counselor Lisa Ruland accepted the award during the CFES Brilliant Pathways’ 30th annual global conference, which ran October 25-26 at the Sagamore Resort on Lake George.(Submitted photo)

MOUNT UPTON – For the third school year in a row, Gilbertsville-Mount Upton has earned a School of Distinction award from CFES Brilliant Pathways.

GMU Principal Heather Wilcox and School Counselor Lisa Ruland accepted the 2020-2021 award during the CFES Brilliant Pathways’ 30th annual global conference, which ran October 25-26 at the Sagamore Resort on Lake George. Wilcox and Ruland were among 200 in-person attendees at the conference, which drew more than 3,000 virtual participants.

CFES Brilliant Pathways presents School of Distinction awards annually to member institutions that develop and execute exemplary plans for their CFES Scholars and involve the entire school in the CFES core practices of mentoring, essential skills, and pathways to colleges and careers. GMU also received School of Distinction awards for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years.

This year’s global conference featured a live presentation by Wilcox during a panel on “Building and Strengthening Your Mentoring Program,” which focused on connections, strategies and resources that schools can use to start or improve mentoring programs. Wilcox expanded GMU’s mentoring program at the start of the 2018-2019 school year to include all of the district’s students, matching those in Grades PK-5 with mentors in Grades 6-12. Students work together on social and life skills once a week during the program, which was recognized as a CFES “Cutting Edge Mentoring Program” last winter.

School districts partner with CFES (College For Every Student) to help high school students graduate and find college opportunities, regardless of income. For more information, visit the website https://brilliantpathways.org/ or call GMU’s main office at 607-783-2207.

– From GMU schools