Nicole Shaheen, a 2025 graduate of Geneva College, has been named a recipient of the PERC 2025 Educator Excellence Award. This distinction, presented by the Pittsburgh Education Recruitment Consortium (PERC), recognizes up to ten emerging or early-career educators each year for their promise, dedication, and positive impact in the field of education. Recipients are awarded a one-time $500 prize and featured for their achievements among a network of PERC member institutions.

Nicole earned her Bachelor of Science in secondary English education and recently completed her student teaching experience, gaining hands-on knowledge in classroom instruction. Her preparation for the field includes multiple field placements and extensive involvement with the Best Buddies program in Pennsylvania, where she worked for seven years with students who have special needs.

Beyond the classroom, Nicole is an accomplished and multi-talented individual. She enjoys baking, songwriting, reading novels, and playing guitar. A published artist with aspirations to become an author, she also brings her leadership and teamwork skills to the volleyball court as both a player and coach.

Nicole’s philosophy as an educator is rooted in encouragement. “I do not expect every student to fall in love with the language,” she shares in her bio, “but I believe that I can lead my students to an appreciation of English. Most importantly, I wish to instill confidence, work ethic, and a love for literacy in new generations — which will allow them to grow in all areas of life.”

Learn more about Geneva College's quality education degree programs, where students like Nicole are prepared to impact the lives of countless students in schools and communities.