AARP Awards Grant to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes as Part of Nationwide Program to Strengthen Communities

Cimarron, KS – American Association for Retired People today announced that the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Ft. Scott, Kansas has received a $9,500 2025 Community Challenge grant, as part of AARP’s $4.2 million commitment to fund 383 quick-action projects aimed at making communities more livable for people of all ages, with a focus on the needs of older adults.

The money will be used to add three new Kansas Unsung Hero panels to the Unsung Heroes Park in Fort Scott, Kansas. These panels will feature stories of William Matthews, Mary Ann Bickerdyke, and Chester Nez, and will include QR codes for translation into any language.

“AARP Kansas is proud to work with communities across the state to help make them more livable for people of all ages,” said Glenda DuBoise, AARP Kansas state president “The Unsung Heroes Park project will bring real improvement by featuring stories of important Kansans. We’re excited to see this come to life.”

Now in its ninth year, the Challenge has awarded 427,00 through 35 grants in Kansas since 2017 to nonprofit organizations and local government entities across the state. Grant projects will be funded in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

View the full list of grantees and their projects at aarp.org/communitychallenge. Learn more about AARP’s work to support livable communities at aarp.org/livable.

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About AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

This is part of a series on

 2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.

FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Meredith Reid, a middle and high school choral music educator at Girard public schools in Girard, KS. Meredith will arrive in Fort Scott on June 22nd for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Meredith Reid, a choir teacher from Girard, KS, was recognized in January 2025 as a Kansas Milken Educator. The choir program was nearly non-existent when Meredith was a student at Girard High School. When she returned to her alma mater as an educator, she re-established the choir program, where students now have opportunities to succeed at state-level contests and are accepted into many different honor choirs.

Outside of her classroom, Meredith is an active member of her community, both locally and beyond. She serves as the Kansas Choral Directors Association Secretary and Kansas Music Educators Southeast District President-Elect. She is also an officer in the Girard P.E.O. chapter. In the last three years, she has developed a community choir, “Generations,” which reflects her goals of sustaining music as a lifelong passion for all ages.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Meredith has re-established and rebuilt the choral music program at Girard Middle and High Schools, making them both successful and award-winning programs. With her previous experience and knowledge of unsung heroes, she has begun plans for unique ways of developing projects with her students.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, has awarded its 2025 National Fellowship to 6 educators. As part of their week-long experience in Fort Scott, each of the six fellows for June 15 – 20 was given the key to the city on Tuesday, June 17^th, by Lindsay Madison, Tourism and Chamber Director. (Six more Fellows will arrive on June 22^nd.)

Upon presenting the keys, Madison said, “On behalf of the City of Fort Scott and the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, it is our honor to welcome you to our community. The tradition of presenting a key to a city represents the highest expression of civic gratitude and trust, honoring outstanding impact through leadership and service. As Lowell Milken Fellows, you are transforming lives into not just what students know but in who they become. Through Unsung Hero projects, you inspire students to gain purpose and vision to grow into stars of the future. May the key serve as a lasting reminder of Fort Scott’s appreciation for your dedication and impact.”

The Fellows honored this week were Theresa Cantwell from New York, Valerie Conklin from ­­­­New York, Alex Lahasky from Kansas, Meghan Menchella from Missouri, Kelly Ryan from Louisiana, and Jay Weisman from Louisiana. LMC Director Norm Conard praised these outstanding individuals, saying, “It is an honor to be able to network and collaborate with these exceptional educators and provide this opportunity for them to reflect, reenergize, and strategize with each other as they seek new ways to inspire their students.”

Every summer, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes awards its Fellowship to national and international award-winning educators from America and around the world. As National LMC Fellows, they deepen their understanding of Unsung Heroes and project-based learning in preparation for developing Unsung Heroes projects with their students. They also learn the stories of powerful role models who have helped to change the world and can be life-changing examples for students today. Along with the time spent deepening their professional skills at the LMC, the Fellows enjoy visiting the Fort Scott area.

This is part of a series of

2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.

FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in

Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious

Fellowship to Jordann Lankford-Forster (Bright Trail Woman), an Indigenous Education for All instructional coach and educator at Great Falls Public Schools in Great Falls, MT. Jordann will arrive in Fort Scott on June 22nd for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Jordann Lankford-Forster, an Indigenous Education for All instructional coach and teacher from Great Falls, MT, has been honored to receive the Montana Indigenous Teacher of the Year Award and named the 2022 Montana History Teacher of the Year. Due largely to Jordann’s leadership, American Indian Studies is a popular subject at Paris Gibson Education Center and encourages students to learn about historical, cultural, and contemporary information concerning American Indian people.

Jordann also assists other educators within her district and state in embedding cultural content into their classrooms and learning spaces. She serves as the Chairwoman of the Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education, the President of the Potlatch Fund, and a Montana representative for the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “We are so excited to have Jordann, our first Fellow from Montana, as part of the Lowell Milken Center Fellowship. As an award-winning instructional coach for Indigenous Education, she brings a unique cultural perspective and will be a valuable resource for the discovery of many new Unsung Heroes.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

This is part of a series of

 2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.

FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Jennifer Barletto Klein, a high school social studies teacher at Weston High School in Weston, CT. Jennifer will arrive in Fort Scott on June 22nd for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Jennifer Barletto Klein, a social studies teacher at Weston High School in Weston, CT, received international recognition from Yad Vashem in 2023 and was selected as a 2024 Auschwitz-Birkenau Fellow. She strives to cultivate a reflective classroom environment, encouraging students to participate in open discussions and develop critical thinking skills. She teaches both in a traditional classroom setting, including at the AP level, and in an alternative educational program that provides students with smaller class sizes and a more supportive environment. She is an advisor to the Jewish Student Union and has been involved in programming to combat antisemitism and hate.

In recent years, Jennifer has been particularly engaged in Holocaust education and participated in a Holocaust education program with Echoes and Reflections at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and traveled to Warsaw, Krakow, and Auschwitz-Birkenau as part of her fellowship. Her semester-long course, Facing History and Ourselves, which examines the Holocaust through a sociological lens, has been deeply enriched by her scholarly pursuits and international experiences.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Jennifer is a trailblazer in Holocaust Education, receiving national recognition by Yad Vashem. Her passion for engaging students with history and its impact on current times ties in with the mission of the Lowell Milken Center. Jennifer will be a great resource for our Fellows seeking to help students create connections between unsung heroes from the past and their own roles in the world today.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

This is part of a series on the

2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.

The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Alex Lahasky, a Social Studies teacher at Blue Valley West High in Overland Park, KS. Alex will arrive in Fort Scott on June 15th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Alex Lahasky, a ­­­­social studies teacher from Overland Park, KS, was recognized as a 2023 Kansas Milken Educator. AP US History is a popular subject at Blue Valley West High School, as Lahasky empowers his students to succeed and excel by fostering open discussion and critical thinking skills. His students consistently surpass state and global pass rates on the AP History exams. Lahasky also aims to develop empathy and interpersonal skills through the exercise of historical thinking.

Within his school, Lahasky serves as social studies department chair, sits on the building leadership team, facilitates a mentor program for new teachers, and is an assistant baseball coach. His measured and methodical leadership fosters a dialogue that has created positive change in school administration and culture.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Alex’s innovative lessons fuel his students’ passion for the past and help them make connections to the present. His strong research and literary skills will provide a unique project development resource for the 2025 team of Fellows.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

Thjs is part of a series of 

 2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.

FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Jay Weisman, a geometry and statistics teacher at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, LA. Jay will arrive in Fort Scott on June 15th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Jay Weisman, a 2021 Louisiana Milken Educator, makes students eager to learn, bringing creativity and enthusiasm to his math and social studies classes at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans. Whether assembling proofs in geometry or hosting a “King Cake Caucus” in AP Government, his engaging, collaborative classroom fosters student participation and reflection. His approach has led to impressive results, with his geometry students consistently achieving over 95% mastery, and 83% of his AP Government students passing the AP exam.

Beyond the classroom, Weisman is deeply involved in his school community, serving as math department chair and regularly organizing events like an incoming student welcome week and announcing at events like football games and graduation. He has coordinated ACT prep programs, successfully pushed for the creation of a testing coordinator position, and has supported his colleagues as a member of the inaugural Instruction Cohort.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Jay’s creative and enthusiastic approach to teaching geometry and statistics while incorporating project-based learning will bring a new dimension to our 2025 Fellowship. We look forward to learning from Jay about little-known heroes in the field of mathematics who have had a significant impact on our lives today.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

This is a series on the

 2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.

FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Kelly Ryan, an AP environmental science and chemistry teacher at Northshore High School in Slidell, LA. Kelly will arrive in Fort Scott on June 15th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Ryan was honored to receive the 2023 Louisiana Milken Educator Award. Her dedication to academic excellence shines through her meticulously structured, standards-based approach, emphasizing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Ryan’s goal is not just to impart knowledge but to empower students to think independently, navigate challenges, and make informed decisions throughout their lives.

​​Through a partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), Ryan is an active member of her school’s Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), which drives professional development and support on campus. She also serves as the science department chair, head of the school’s ACT committee, and member of the district’s ACT committee. In 2024, the district achieved the highest ACT scores among all public-school districts in Louisiana. Ryan is also the coach of two award-winning robotics teams and is the advisor of National Honor Society.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Kelly encourages her students in collaborative scientific exploration. By incorporating project-based learning, the students become adept at analytical reasoning and higher-order thinking skills. With the importance of scientific fields of discovery throughout history, Kelly’s knowledge of unsung heroes within these fields will bring to light many new unsung heroes for our Fellows to research with their students.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

This is part of a series on the

2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows.

FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Valerie Mignone-Conklin, a Library Media Specialist at Jericho Middle School in Jericho, NY. Valerie will arrive in Fort Scott on June 15th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Valerie Conklin, a ­­­­Library and Information Science teacher from Jericho Middle School, was honored, with her students, as a 2020 Lowell Milken Center National Discovery Award winner. She empowers her students to succeed and excel, working collaboratively with the Social Studies teachers in her school to create research projects that consistently receive national recognition in both the National Discovery Award and National History Day competitions.

Within her school, Valerie has served on building leadership and collaborative decision-making teams, the technology committee, the restorative practice committee, an antibullying committee, and more. She also co-wrote the school’s research curriculum. Outside of school, Valerie has served as a board member for Long Island History Day and serves on the council of Nassau BOCES School Library Services. She received the Nassau BOCES eva efron Memorial Award in 2023 and the 2024 Librarian of the Year Award from the Long Island School Library Association.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Valerie’s enthusiasm for discovering the stories of Unsung Heroes in history has led to many winning national history projects for her students, including several Lowell Milken Center National Discovery Awards. Her passion for discovery and project development will greatly benefit our 2025 team of Fellows.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.

This is part of a series featuring 2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellows who will be here the week of June 15

Theresa Cantwell Named

 2025 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow

FORT SCOTT, KS – June 1, 2025 – The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Theresa Cantwell, a Social Studies teacher at Jericho Middle School in Jericho, NY. Theresa will arrive in Fort Scott on June 15th for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history.

Theresa is an 8th-grade social studies teacher and the history research coordinator at Jericho Middle School. She and her students have won multiple national awards in history competitions, including the Lowell Milken Center National Discovery Award. Theresa and her students also received awards in National History Day competitions and the New York State Archives Student Research Awards. She was recently recognized as the Long Island History Day Teacher of the Year on March 27, 2025.

History research is a popular program at Jericho Middle School, where Theresa has taught for 33 years and has been the Jericho Schools’ history research coordinator for the past decade. She empowers students to conduct real research, analyze complex topics, and to give voice to stories that are too often forgotten or deliberately erased. Jericho Schools were recognized by the Lowell Milken Center as winners of the Outstanding School Award in October of 2024.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, “Theresa inspires her students to explore history in new ways and has led their development of winning projects in both the LMC National Discovery Award and National History Day competitions. Her leadership skills and expertise in project-based learning will be a valuable resource to share with our 2025 team of Fellows. We look forward to continued outstanding Unsung Hero projects from Theresa’s students.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students, applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world throughout history.