Kia Jane Richmond, an English professor at Northern Michigan University, received the Charles Carpenter Fries Award from the Michigan Council of Teachers of English. She was honored at the MCTE fall conference Oct. 30 in East Lansing. Criteria for the Fries Award are: long and faithful service to the profession of English teaching; distinguished leadership in her or his own community and also at the state and/or national level; inspirational qualities for students and colleagues; originality/special stamp; academic superiority; and current member of MCTE.

The Michigan Council of Teachers of English is an organization for K-16 English language arts teachers and English educators in Michigan. Its purpose is to provide  professional development for English education professionals throughout the state.