The University of Arkansas teacher-education program relies on mentor teachers to guide student interns during their public school placements. This week, the program honored three with its mentor teacher of the year award.

Students who nominated their mentor teachers said a few words explaining why at a dinner Wednesday honoring mentor teachers at the Fayetteville Town Center. The Office of Teacher Education hosted the event with about 350 people in attendance, including 20 school administrators, 130 interns and 160 mentors. The rest were University of Arkansas faculty and staff.

The program presented awards to Lara Irvin, who teaches high school chemistry at Har-Ber High School in Springdale and was nominated by Danielle Emrick; Jay Mirus, who teaches sixth-grade science at McNair Middle School in Fayetteville and was nominated by Ryan Dillard; and Rachel Sabatini, who teaches seventh-grade mathematics at Sonora Middle School in Springdale and was nominated by Ashley Capezzuto.

The Office of Teacher Education places more than 1,000 students in nearly 20 school districts every year and also serves as the central source of information on Arkansas educator licensure requirements and regulations for U of A students and constituents.

Students who won outstanding student awards presented by the College of Education and Health Professions also were recognized on stage. They were Candace Brown, secondary education; Jervae' Franklin, childhood education; Kendahl Hahn, career and technical education; Alisha Holman, elementary education; Mikayla Hopkins, UATeach, who was not able to attend; Melanie Hosty, physical education; Samantha Morgan, secondary education; and Grant Washburn, career and technical education.

Many local businesses contributed door prizes for the event, and students and mentor teachers also had fun having their pictures taken in a photo booth.