Whitefish High School teacher Amanda Matdies recently won the Montana Family and Consumer Science New Achievers Award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

The award recognizes emerging professionals who have exhibited the potential to make significant contributions in the field of family and consumer sciences. Candidates must have at least three, but no more than eight years of service in the field and be an active member of AAFCS.

Matdies has taught family and consumer sciences at WHS for three years and last year was awarded the Educator of Excellence award from Montana ProStart, a national career technical education high school program developed by the National Restaurant Education Foundation.

She teaches cooking and baking at the school and is heading up a new hospitality and tourism course as well.

More information can be found at www.aafcs.org.