FARMINGTON — University of Maine at Farmington student Kayla McGee was recently honored as an Outstanding Future Professional by the Maine Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She was one of only five Maine college students recognized at the organization’s annual conference in Rockland.

A senior from South Paris, McGee is majoring in community health education at UMF with a school health concentration. She was selected by MAHPERD for this award for her academic achievement, campus and community involvement, leadership qualities and professional standing. As part of her award, she was selected by the executive board as one of two award recipients to represent Maine at the Eastern District Annual Conference in the spring.

First interested in nursing, McGee discovered a passion for health education and helping young people make healthy decisions to live a healthy lifestyle. Having lost her best friend in high school in a car accident, she is committed to helping students see how their choices can make a huge difference in their health and quality of life.

“I want to be able to educate young people on how to prevent problems in their lives at an age when they’re most vulnerable,” said McGee.

Just having completed her student teaching at Oxford Hills High School, McGee finds helping students live a healthy lifestyle extremely rewarding. “I want to make sure they are all taken care of,” said McGee. Her educational interests include disease and drug prevention, suicide prevention, human sexuality and the prevention of unintentional injuries.

“Kayla has a natural ability to connect with people and interact with students in a positive, meaningful way,” said Stephanie Swan, UMF lecturer in community health education. “Her care and concern for the well-being of young people is really inspirational and hopefully helps them to care for themselves at an age when it can make the biggest difference in their lives.”

McGee serves as the student representative on the MAHPERD board. In addition to her work with the nonprofit organization, she is a member of Eta Sigma Gamma, the national honor society for health education professionals.

As a sophomore at UMF, she served as secretary of the UMF student club for sexual awareness. She is graduating from UMF in December.