UPDATE: Awards Roll in For Brookfield Central Teacher Jill Cook

Updated Friday: A second $500 GE Star Scholar award was presented to Brookfield Central High School English teacher Jill Cook this week, just days after she received one. This one was made possible by the nomination of one of Cook's students, Kathryn Kalata.

The awards keep rolling in for Cook, who also is being recognized by a high school press association.

Cook has been named the 2011 Nancy G. Becker KEMPA Newspaper Adviser of the Year by the Kettle Moraine Press Association. The award was renamed in Becker's honor after Becker died Sept 4.

"Being selected for this tribute is especially humbling and certainly an honor," Cook wrote to Brookfield Patch. "Nancy was my first employer in 1990 when I graduated from Marquette (University). She hired me to teach at KEMPA summer journalism camp, and she served as a mentor my entire adult life."

Cook received a $500 award to be used for educational purposes from the GE Foundation's Institute of International Education. The check accompanies a GE Star award that was given to one of Cook's students, Megan Kalata.

"Megan Kalata is a spectacular student and an extraordinary person," Cook said.

This week, Cook learned that Kalata's twin sister, Kathryn Kalata, also won a Star award and nominated Cook for the $500 educational check.

Cook said she was "beyond humbled and grateful that both young women had faith in my ability to select appropriate educational materials and considered me an influence in their lives."

The awards come just months after Cook was one of five teachers nationwide to receive thaca College's for her work inspiring students to media careers.  by Youth Journalism International.

A 1990 Marquette University graduate, Cook has taught at Elmbrook School District for seven years and advised Central's student newspaper Tyro since 2006. She has taught many English courses at Brookfield Central, including journalism; Advanced Placement English: language and composition; literature studies; Honors 9 English; and research and composition.