We are thrilled to announce that Ivelise Mendez-Perez, affectionately known as Señora Mendez by her students, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 IU Advance College Project (ACP) Distinguished Faculty Award! This recognition highlights her exceptional dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the success of her students.
Since joining ACP in 2020, Ms. Mendez-Perez has been a standout instructor, teaching Spanish courses S200, S203, and S112 at Yorktown High School in Yorktown, Indiana. Through her impactful teaching and genuine care for her students, she has consistently embodied the core values of ACP: academic excellence, personal growth, and preparation for the next phase of students’ academic and professional journeys.
The announcement of her award was made on Friday, May 2nd, 2025, during a surprise ceremony at Yorktown High School. In attendance were Yorktown’s Principal Stacey Brewer, Superintendent Dr. Greg Hinshaw, and Troy Byler, the Director of ACP, who officially presented the award to Ms. Mendez-Perez. The occasion was a fitting tribute to her hard work and dedication, which has made a lasting impact on countless students in the ACP program.
Ivelise Mendez-Perez’s commitment to student success is evident in every aspect of her teaching. Over the years, she has gone above and beyond to create a supportive learning environment that encourages student growth. As Sandra Ortiz, Senior Lecturer and S200 Course Supervisor, notes in her nomination, “Ivelise fosters a supportive learning environment that promotes student growth and facilitates meaningful learning experiences.”
Her approach to teaching goes beyond simply delivering the curriculum. Ms. Mendez-Perez integrates real-world scenarios into her lessons, helping students connect what they learn in the classroom to their future careers and studies. She designs engaging activities that not only enhance students’ language skills but also boost their confidence, equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in college and beyond.
Through her years of dedication, Ms. Mendez-Perez has built a reputation for preparing students for the next stage of their academic or professional journeys with a strong foundation in both the language and the cultural understanding necessary to thrive in today’s global society.
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