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Schools

Lake Fenton Astronaut, Teacher Inspire Students to Reach for the Stars

Michael Bloomfield, former NASA astronaut, and elementary school art teacher Cindy Cederholm receive accolades at Lake Fenton Community Schools Foundation event

In space, it takes 45 seconds to cross Michigan.

"You are trying to find your home," said Michael Bloomfield, a 1977 graduate of and the veteran of three space flights. "You are looking to see if Mom and Dad left the light on."

While it was easy to see the West Coast at night and pick out Las Vegas, "the brightest city on the planet," it was more difficult to figure out which lights were which cities in the Midwest, Bloomfield said. At 17,500 mph, the first really big Midwest city he could identify was Chicago. In Michigan, he saw Detroit but then the shuttle sped on over Cleveland and New York. Bloomfield couldn't see if his parents, longtime Linden residents Rodger and Maxine Bloomfield, kept their light on.

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Mike Bloomfield's career has taken him far, but his home is still Lake Fenton. On Saturday evening, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lake Fenton Community Schools Foundation, at a celebration at Spring Meadows Country Club. And Cindy Cederholm, art teacher for West Shore Elementary School and Torrey Hill Intermediate School, received Lake Fenton schools' first Teacher of the Year award.

Olga Long, a mother of five and vice president of marketing for Financial Plus Credit Union, said Superintendent Wayne Wright and Cederholm's building principals, Kathleen Conover of Torrey Hill Intermediate and Sonya Shaughnessy of West Shore Elementary, surprised her with the award.

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Wright and the two principals visited one of Cederholm's second grade art classes, with Wright saying they were there to observe her.

"She graciously accepted the challenge," Long said.

After a few minutes, Wright said he was there to surprise her with Lake Fenton Community Schools' first Teacher of the Year award.

Cederholm sat down and cried some tears of joy. One of her students was confused and asked what it meant. Cederholm explained to her that it was like receiving the badge of honor.

"Her love for children and art shines every day," Long said. "Cindy goes above and beyond every day."

The students' mural at is there because of Cederholm, she said. In addition, Cederholm creates numerous art shows and displays that bring pride to many children. "She is so firm and loving, but completely fair," Long said. In addition, Cederholm uses data projectors to display the work of famous artists and bring it into her classes.

She works with more than 800 elementary school art students, Cederholm said. The work is exciting, challenging and often exhausting, but her job always is always rewarding.

"My students just inspire me each and every day, and it is a privilege to be their teacher," she said. "I am truly blessed to do something I love, and that is to teach."

In addition, her fellow Lake Fenton teachers bring creativity, passion and perseverance to their classes each day. So, she accepted her award on behalf of all Lake Fenton teachers, who give their time gladly in the service of all of the children.

Cederholm has taught art for Lake Fenton Community Schools for 13 years, and said the best part about teaching is the opportunity to work with the children. She likes the Lake Fenton school district because it is a family, and the community is truly a family. "We all care about one another," she said. They know each others' families, and their children and grandchildren. They share their happy moments and are there for each other during sad times, too.

"She's a great representative of the staff," Wright said. "Everybody on staff is very proud of her."

The district's new Teacher of the Year was an idea the board of education discussed at its retreat in September, he said. The process for selecting the recipient included a letter all teachers in the district received in February. They made nominations for a fellow teacher who made significant contributions, considering criteria such as personal characteristics, teaching effectiveness, creativity, professionalism, leadership skills, extracurricular activities, community involvement, relationships with staff and parents, organization, contributions to the program and professional development they were involved with.

The 87 teachers in the district submitted four teachers as nominees for Teacher of the Year. They included Wilma Betts from , Patti Sabourin from , Kate VanHouten from Lake Fenton Middle School, and Cederholm. Then, a committee that included three principals and three teachers evaluated the nominees and determined the award winner, Wright said.

Cederholm's family includes her husband, Bill, daughters, Melissa and Elizabeth, and grandson, Ethan. She enjoys gardening and caring for a variety of animals, including horses.

Bloomfield's friend Dennis Demeter, Lake Fenton High School Class of 1976, said Bloomfield inspired his son, Phillip. At age 12, Phillip said he wanted to be an astronaut but he didn't think it would happen because he went to such a small school in the country. Demeter decided an introduction to Bloomfield was in order. He called his friend at his parents' house and brought his son over to meet the high-flying Lake Fenton grad.

Phillip Demeter soon had an 8 by 10 glossy photo of Bloomfield in his hands, and two years later, tickets for VIP seats at the 1997 space shuttle launch Bloomfield was going on.

"I watched his eyes follow you up, Mike," Demeter said. "I could see his aspirations."

Phillip wrote Bloomfield by mail asking him what classes and steps to take. Bloomfield took the time to correspond with him, telling him to take all the math and science classes he could, and advanced placement classes in high school.

Like Bloomfield, Phillip drew from his teachers and the community around him, which formed his character and helped him succeed in life. He has a master's degree in aerospace engineering, has accepted a new position as a pilot and will get his astronaut wings, Dennis Demeter said.

State Sen. John Gleason (D-Flushing), presented Bloomfield with a tribute on behalf of the State of Michigan. It's appropriate the evening was shared with the Teacher of the Year, since Mike has been a teacher to others, Gleason said. "I think this is one of the best things Lake Fenton could do."

Lake Fenton Community Schools Board of Education Secretary Alberta Martin presented Bloomfield with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Bloomfield has a bachelor of science degree in Engineering Mechanics from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a master's degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University and was captain of the 1980 U.S. Air Force Academy Falcon football team. He received the Commanders Trophy as top graduate from the Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training and was Distinguished Graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School Class 92A. In addition, he was a combat ready pilot and instructor pilot in the F-15, is a veteran of three space flights (1997, 2000 and 2002) and has more than 753 hours in space, Martin said.

Bloomfield said he is honored by the Life Time Achievement Award. "It really means something when it comes from the community you grew up in. Lake Fenton is my home."

He agrees with "Outliers" author Malcolm Gladwell that someone's community plays a large role in determining their success in life. He thanked his parents and family, school district, teachers and sports coaches, Lake Fenton United Methodist Church and others in the community for their roles in his life. The Lake Fenton Community Schools district gave him a "set of tools to go out and attack the world," Bloomfield said. "I am very grateful, and I am very honored and humbled to receive this award."

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