2014 Educator of the Year

“Art provides students the means to think, feel, and understand the world around them in ways unique and distinct from other disciplines. Giving students a background into conservation management issues relating to fish, fowl, or beast provides a depth of understanding (in their subject matter) that translates into higher quality artworks.” – Scott Cummings

Scott Cummings

Visual Art Teacher | Bellmont Middle School | Decatur, Indiana

Scott Cummings, a twenty-five year veteran visual art teacher from Bellmont Middle School in Decatur, Indiana, has been named Wildlife Forever’s State Fish Art 2014 Educator of the Year in recognition of his significant contribution to youth conservation education. He will receive a $500 Gift Card for art supplies from Triarco Arts & Crafts, the award’s new sponsor.

Along with fishing for art, he also fishes for steelhead trout! This time with his youngest daughter Danielle on the St. Joe River. “I am not a biology, ecology, or science teacher; I teach art,” relates Scott. “Art provides students the means to think, feel, and understand the world around them in ways unique and distinct from other disciplines. Giving students a background into conservation management issues relating to fish, fowl, or beast provides a depth of understanding (in their subject matter) that translates into higher quality artworks.”

Cummings will be honored at the 16th annual State-Fish Art EXPO on August 16 along with the winning young artists from across America. This year’s EXPO is hosted by title sponsor FLW and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at the FLW Forrest Wood Cup in Columbia, South Carolina. “We are very excited to be a part of Wildlife Forever’s State-Fish Art Contest. With a National education focus on transformation through Arts integration, this is an excellent curricular activity that involves Science, Ecology and Art in the classroom. Teachers using the complementary lesson plan will be able to provide their students with an interactive art and science learning experience,” stated Terry Clayton, General Manager, Triarco.

Cummings joins past winners of the Educator of the Year Award, Zoe Ann Stinchcomb, 2008 from Texas; Dawn Cook, 2009 from Arkansas; Michelle Daberkow, 2010 from Nebraska; Lila Jenkins, 2011 from Missouri; Dr. Helen Loughner, 2012 from Pennsylvania and Ashley Berdeau, 2013 from
North Carolina.

“Scott Cumming’s art students are regular participants and winners in the State-Fish Art Contest, I am extremely impressed with his ability to reach his kids with a strong conservation message,” remarked Karen R. Hollingsworth, Manager, State-Fish Art. “An avid sportsman, writer and photographer, he continually shares his outdoor experiences in his classrooms and really cares about getting his kids acclimated to nature. He is helping create future stewards of our natural resources, which supports our ultimate goal.”