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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE liberal studies major Betsy DeBrakeleer awarded the Laska Award from NEHTA

 University of New England occupational therapy clinical field work coordinator and Class of 2009 liberal studies major, Betsy Debrakeleer, has been awarded the Laska Award from the New England History Teachers Association (NEHTA).

DeBrakeleer is currently working on her liberal studies senior capstone, a thesis on the role of the blacksmith shop at living history museums. Combining history and art history in this original research, she is visiting living history museums (such as Old Sturbridge Village and Mystic Seaport) across New England.

A dean's list student, DeBrakeleer is also the 2009 recipient of the history department's spring research grant, which funds her research trips.

NEHTA, founded in 1897, is the nation’s oldest association of teachers of history and social studies in the United States. Through conferences, publications, and awards, NEHTA provides teachers, students and academics opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations about the teaching and learning of history and its related disciplines.

First awarded in 2005, the Laska Award is given to an undergraduate with a declared major in history with a focus in United States history who is attending a college or university in New England.

The award consists of a cash prize of $2000 and a certificate confirming the award. Any undergraduate college or university student who is a United States citizen, majoring in or concentrating in United States history, and enrolled in a college or university in New England is eligible for the award.

The money is to be used to further the recipient's study of United States history. The award is named for the late history professor, Dr. Vera Laska, a Kidger prizewinner, and her husband Andrew J. Laska, who was a successful businessman.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.