Category Archives: Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

LMC 2024 National Discovery Award Winners

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September 18, 2024

Vol. 8

Announcing the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

2024 National Discovery Award Winners!

Dr. Toni Guglielmo of the Lowell Milken Family Foundation (pictured on the right) presented the 2024 National Discovery Award Grand Prize to Harmony Yan-Li from Irvine High School (CA) on behalf of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.

For its 2024 National Discovery Award competition, the Lowell Milken Center in Fort Scott has awarded over $25,000 in cash prizes to elementary, middle and high school students. This annual competition is designed to inspire students to develop primary and secondary research projects that share the powerful historical impact of unsung heroes whose stories are little-known.

California’s Irvine High School student Harmony Yan-Li was surprised with the news that she is the $6,000 Grand Prize winner of the Lowell Milken Center’s annual National Discovery Award competition. Dr. Toni Guglielmo of the Lowell Milken Family Foundation presented the award to Harmony in front of a group of classmates, family, school officials, and her supervising teacher, Jennifer Harrington. Together, they celebrated and viewed Harmony’s inspiring Unsung Hero documentary, Turning from Tragedy: The Unsung Story of Frances Kelsey and the Thalidomide Scandal.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard shared his thoughts, “Harmony Yan-Li’s project will be proudly shared in our Hall of Unsung Heroes. Her powerful documentary about pharmacologist and physician Frances Kelsey masterfully relates the courage of Dr. Kelsey in taking a bold stand against the use of Thalidomide in the United States, averting a further crisis for women and their unborn children.”

A memorable moment from our Zoom meeting as Rehan Mathew Koshy learns he is the 2024 National Discovery Award First Place winner.

The $3,000 First Place prize was awarded to high school student Rehan Mathew Koshy from Walter Payton College Prep in Illinois. His documentary, Ensign Jane Kendeigh:  Angel to the Rescue, shares the story of Unsung Hero Jane Kendeigh, the first female US Navy flight nurse to land in Iwo Jima during WWII. Rehan’s supervising teacher was Allison Gillick.

Kaitlyn Choi and Madison Choi, students at Jericho High School in New York, were the winners of the $2,500 Outstanding High School Project award, presented to them by LMC Executive Director Norm Conard. Kaitlyn and Madison’s website, Being (Judy) Heumann:  Champion for the Rights of the Disabled, emotionally relates the determination of Unsung Hero Judy Heumann to represent the rights of disabled people in our society. Brian Dussel was their supervising teacher.

The $2,000 Outstanding Middle School Project award was presented by LMC Executive Director Norm Conard in New York to Jericho Middle School student Jay Patel for his documentary, The Color of Blood:  Dr. Charles Drew, An Unsung Hero in Blood Preservation. Charles Drew’s transformation in blood preservation and the establishment of blood banks helped save millions of lives during World War II and continues to save lives today. Teacher Michelle Vevante supervised his project.

More photos from the Jericho H.S. and M.S. presentations will be featured in a future newsletter!

LMC Program Director Megan Felt awarded the Founder’s Award to students Anna McLaughlin and Danika Szopinski from Seaman High School in Topeka, KS. Their documentary, Bela Hazan:  The Courier Who Redefined Resistance and Changed History, shares the important but unknown story of a young Jewish victim of the Holocaust. As a courier and member of the Jewish Resistance, Hazan smuggled information, money, and other goods to ghettos during the Holocaust. Susan Sittenauer was their supervising teacher for the project.

The Outstanding International Project was awarded to high school students in Cherkasy, Ukraine. Their website, Oleksandra Shulezhko:  The story of a woman who saved more than a hundred children during World War II, is a powerful testament to the efforts of the Ukrainian teacher who courageously sheltered and saved dozens of Jewish children during the Holocaust. Feature coming soon!

The $1,500 Outstanding Elementary School Project award was presented to Christian Learning Center students Charlee Wells and Hadley Wells by LMC Program Director Megan Felt in Fort Scott, KS. Their documentary, Etching Voices:  An Unsung Hero in the Recording and Music Industry, shares the story of Unsung Hero Emile Berliner, whose invention of the gramophone greatly impacted the accessibility and affordability of recorded music for people throughout the world. The supervising teacher was Rachel Wells.

LMC Program Director Megan Felt is pictured with students Danika Szopinski and Anna McLaughlin, creators of the 2024 National Discovery Award Founder’s Award-winning project on Unsung Hero Bela Hazan, alongside their teacher, Susan Sittenauer, a 2014 LMC Fellow.

Hadley Wells and Charlee Wells, students from Christian Learning Center in Fort Scott, Kansas, proudly display the check they were awarded for winning the Outstanding Elementary School Project.

In addition to these outstanding 2024 Discovery Award entries, other students and teachers were honored for their excellent work. The following seven projects received  Certificate of Excellence awards:

  • Student Aprameyan Ramanujan, Spring Hill Elementary in VA, (Teacher Shvetha Ramanujan) Warrior on Wheels – Judith Heumann, the Mother of the Disability Rights Movement
  • Student Jackson Mehmen, Nashua-Plains Middle School in IA, (Teacher Suzy Turner) Dr. Norman Borlaug:  Scientist and Humanitarian
  • Students Rayan and Rumaisa Hasan, Jericho Middle School in NY), (Teachers Laura Suchopar, Marci Kivo and Michelle Vevante) Jean Heller:  The Unsung Hero Who Paved the Way for American Bioethics
  • Student Ananya Kavi, Jericho Middle School in NY, (Teacher Pamela Travis)

    A Heart of Gold:  The Heroic Work of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams

  • Student Charlie Stones, Washburn Rural High School in KS, (Teachers Lindsey Dowell and Alice Bertels) March 19, 1966 (Unsung Hero Don Haskins)
  • Student Claira Morgan, Loup County High School in NE, (Teacher Megan Helberg) Percy Hobart:  The Mind That Helped Win World War II
  • Students Makenna Hatten and Andrew Ritter, Moriarty High School in NM, (Teacher Amy Page) Remembering Angkar:  How Dith Pran Risked Death to Record the Cambodian Genocide

Additionally, the following were also recognized:

  • National Outstanding Discovery Award Teacher:  Chris Dier, Benjamin Franklin High School, New Orleans, LA
  • Outstanding Teacher Awards:  Megan Helberg, Loup County Public Schools, (NE); Tami Lunsford, Newark Charter School, (NJ); Miranda Spina and Jayda Pugliese, St. Mary Interparochial School (PA)
  • Outstanding School Award: Jericho High School and Middle School (NY)

    Jericho Teachers: Michelle Vevante, Theresa Cantwell, James Lawlor, Laura Suchopar, Pamela Travis, Marci Kivo, Brian Dussel, Sarah Espinal, Konstantine Kovoros, Randi Sambursky, and Dr. Eric Sandberg

Chris Dier from Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, LA, and a 2023 LMC Fellow, was named the National Discovery Award Outstanding Teacher. Chris was recognized for his exceptional contributions to the Discovery Award competition and for student engagement.

LMC Executive Director Norm Conard pictured with students from Jericho High School and Middle School, recipients of the 2024 National Discovery Award Outstanding School Award. Their dedication and teamwork as a district earned them this prestigious recognition.

LMC’s Discovery Award provides a unique opportunity for US and International students in grades 4 through 12 to research primary sources and use their talents to develop projects that showcase the power of one person to make positive change in the world. “Real heroes tower and guide,” said LMC Founder Lowell Milken. “But their stories need to be discovered and heard. When we do, we have the opportunity to motivate new generations to aspire to values that are essential during the challenging times we face individually, as a nation, and as a world community.”

Submissions for the next competition season are due July 1, 2025. Project work may begin immediately.

Established in 2007, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (LMC) discovers, develops, and communicates the stories of unsung heroes who have profoundly and positively impacted history, yet are largely unrecognized by contemporary generations. The LMC has reached over 3,300,000 students and 44,000 schools in all 50 states and countries worldwide. Learn more about LMC and the Discovery Award.

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Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Youth

Local Students Win LMC Outstanding Elementary School History Project

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CHRISTIAN LEARNING CENTER STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR DISCOVERING UNSUNG HERO WHO IMPACTED HISTORY

 

FORT SCOTT, KS, (September 18, 2024) – For its 2024 Discovery Award competition, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott has awarded over $25,000 in cash prizes to elementary, middle, and high school students. This international competition is designed to inspire students to develop primary and secondary research projects that share the stories of unsung heroes who have impacted history, yet their stories remain largely unknown.

 

The $1,500 Outstanding Elementary School Project award was presented to Christian Learning Center students Charlee and Hadley Wells by LMC Program Director Megan Felt in Fort Scott, KS. Their documentary, Etching Voices: An Unsung Hero in the Recording and Music Industry, shares the story of Unsung Hero Emile Berliner, whose invention of the gramophone greatly impacted the accessibility and affordability of recorded music for people worldwide. (Teacher Rachel Wells)

 

Sharing his thoughts, LMC Executive Director Norm Conard said, “Charlee and Hadley’s documentary highlights the importance of the invention of the gramophone, making us aware of Emile Berliner and his significant impact on our ability to access the music we love.”

 

LMC’s Discovery Award provides a unique opportunity for U.S. and International students in grades 4 through 12 to research primary sources and use their talents to develop projects that showcase the power of one person to make positive change in the world. “Real heroes tower and guide,” said LMC Founder Lowell Milken. “Their stories need to be discovered and heard, motivating new generations to aspire to values that are essential during the challenging times we face.”

 

Submissions for the next competition season are due July 1, 2025. Project work may begin immediately.

Established in 2007, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (LMC) discovers, develops, and communicates the stories of unsung heroes who have profoundly and positively impacted history yet are largely unrecognized by contemporary generations. LMC has reached over 3,000,000 students and 30,000 schools in all 50 states and countries around the world. Learn more about LMC and the Discovery Award. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

 

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Unsung Heroes Coloring Books

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Unsung Heroes Coloring Books!
Jen Braverman, Visual Art Teacher and LMC Fellow (2021 NJ) has been creating educational coloring books since 2006 to tap into the therapeutic practice of coloring. Her two volumes of Color Unsung Heroes  are dedicated to individuals who made the world a better place and demonstrated extraordinary traits such as courage, compassion, and sacrifice—without seeking credit for their actions. Featured in these pages are portraits accompanied by inspirational short biographies of the Unsung Heroes. These coloring books can be used as a teaching and learning resource in the classroom to promote historical empathy and mindfulness.

Check out the two volumes Jen created below:
Color Unsung Heroes Vol. 1
Color Unsung Heroes Vol. 2 Courageous Women
ARTEFFECT and the Unsung Heroes

ARTEFFECT celebrates the Unsung Heroes
as roles models through the visual arts.
The diverse and inspiring stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes are at the core of the ARTEFFECT. There are over 130 individuals on the LMC Unsung Heroes list that span time and cut across various disciplines including STEAM, social justice, the environment, medicine, and more. These individuals took actions in service to others and society and demonstrated altruistic qualities such as courage, compassion, sacrifice, and conviction.

In this video, educators share about teaching and learning through ARTEFFECT and the power of artmaking focused on the Unsung Heroes:
Ambassadors in Action!
Meet our featured Ambassador in Action Mevlida Turkes-Habibovic Ph.D., a teacher at Tom Benson School in Kenner, Louisiana.

Each ARTEFFECT Ambassador culminates their online fellowship with a capstone project that brings the inspiring stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes into their classrooms and communities. Here’s an excerpt from Mevlida about her capstone project:

“The second part of my capstone projects was my own artistic journey, reflecting on the work of two unsung heroes, Ramiz Nukić, a survivor of genocide in Srebrenica in 1995 and Carl Wilkens, who witnessed the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Inspired by Jennifer Braverman, the instructor of the ARTEFFECT Unsung Heroes and STEAM online session, I created a coloring/activity book about Nukić and Wilkens.”

Thank you to Mevlida for your dedication and inspiring work as an educator. Congratulations on the amazing lessons learned by the students at Tom Benson School in Kenner, Louisiana.

Read more about Mevlida’s capstone project
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Arteffect Ambassadors Applications Due September 16

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ARTEFFECT Ambassadors
Visual Arts Online Fellowship 2024-2025

Last Call for Applications!

ARTEFFECT Ambassadors invites middle and high school educators to apply for this online fellowship. Explore the inspiring stories of Unsung Heroes with your classrooms and communities, deepen your instructional practice through the visual arts and arts-integration, and engage with a cohort in peer-learning. The fellowship carries a $1,250 stipend + $250 materials credit.

The application deadline is Monday, September 16, 2024. Review the Program Information Sheet for all the details.
Submit Your Application!
Stay connected with ARTEFFECT through our expanding social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Join a growing network of art educators at the
For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
ARTEFFECT Facebook
ARTEFFECT Instagram
LMC ARTEFFECT
ARTEFFECT YouTube
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Our mailing address is:

Lowell Milken Center

1 South Main St

Fort Scott, KS 66701
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Lowell Milken’s Educator Online Fellowship: Art Integration Application Closes Soon

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ARTEFFECT Ambassadors
Visual Arts Online Fellowship
Applications Closing Monday, Sept 16, 2024
Educators working with students in grades 6-12 are invited to apply for the ARTEFFECT Ambassadors online fellowship. Explore the inspiring stories of Unsung Heroes with your classrooms and communities, deepen your instructional practice through the visual arts and arts-integration, and engage with an expanding peer network.

STEPS TO APPLY:

1. View this Info Session recording to learn more about ARTEFFECT and the Unsung Heroes and program details. Hear from 2023-2024 Ambassadors about their experiences.

2. Review the ARTEFFECT Ambassadors Info Sheet. The Info Sheet provides details on the program overview and timeline, participation requirements, eligibility, and application process.

3. Gather all the required information and materials. Apply through the online application by Monday, September 16, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Start Your Application
A Growing Network of Art Educators!
The 2023-2024 inaugural Ambassadors cohort had 27 educators from across 17 U.S. States and Canada. Their capstone projects brought the stories of the Unsung Heroes to their classrooms and communities in modalities such as lesson plans, student art exhibitions, collaborations with partner school, publications, community events, and more! Looking forward to seeing more amazing work from these outstanding educators in the year ahead!
Browse 2023-2024 Ambassadors Profiles
Join a growing network of art educators at the
New to ARTEFFECT and the Unsung Heroes?
ARTEFFECT champions the Unsung Heroes as roles models through the visual arts. Hear from some educators
about ARTEFFECT.
The diverse and inspiring stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes are at the core of the ARTEFFECT. View this short video as educators share about the power of artmaking focused on the Unsung Heroes.
Unsung Heroes took actions that profoundly improved the lives of others and positively impacted the course of history. They demonstrated altruistic qualities such as courage, compassion, sacrifice, and conviction. Their stories span the centuries and cut across multiple disciplines including STEAM, social justice, wartime history, and education. LMC celebrates the extraordinary contributions of over 130 Unsung Heroes and counting! View the list.
National Arts in Education Week is a celebration recognizing the transformative power of the arts in education. As an arts education initiative, ARTEFFECT joins NAEA and countless other organizations in implementing the arts as a powerful and indispensable tool in education.

Learn more about National Arts in Education Week.
Stay connected with ARTEFFECT through our expanding social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
ARTEFFECT Facebook
ARTEFFECT Instagram
LMC ARTEFFECT
ARTEFFECT YouTube
Copyright © 2024 Lowell Milken Center, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you either subscribed on our website or expressed interest in receiving updates while visiting us.

Our mailing address is:

Lowell Milken Center

1 South Main St

Fort Scott, KS 66701
Art, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

ARTEFFECT Ambassadors Visual Arts Online Fellowship 2024-2025 Application

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ARTEFFECT Ambassadors
Visual Arts Online Fellowship 2024-2025
ARTEFFECT Ambassadors is an online fellowship for educators working directly with students in grades 6-12 to foster the visual arts. Ambassadors explore teaching and learning around the inspiring and diverse stories of Unsung Heroes from history.
PROGRAM TIMELINE:
The fellowship runs online from October 30, 2024–June 2, 2025. During the school year, Ambassadors attend at least four online modules taught by seasoned art educators and practitioners, accompanied by lesson plans. Sessions are on Wednesdays – Pacific Time. Module 1 and Module 6 are mandatory.

Module 1 – Program Overview: Meet the Unsung Heroes 
OCT 30, 2024, 4:00-6:00 PM PT

Module 2 – Character and Values
NOV 20, 2024, 4:00-5:15 PM PT

Module 3 – Storytelling through Art
DEC 11, 2024, 4:00-5:15 PM PT

Module 4 – Unsung Heroes and STEAM
JAN  22, 2025, 4:00-5:15 PM PT

Module 5 – Artmaking and Social Impact
FEB  26, 2025, 4:00-5:15 PM PT

Module 6 – Impacting Communities: Capstone Project
APR 9, 2025, 4:00-6:00 PM PT

Ambassadors connect with the cohort and colleagues nationwide through online events and networks, meet 1:1 with the Program Director by April 1, 2025, and complete a Capstone Project and Report by June 2, 2025. Capstone Projects are learner-centered, uniquely designed, and developed by each Ambassador. Capstone Projects can take shape as lesson plans, student art exhibitions, publications, community events, and more.

The fellowship provides a Certificate of Completion, a $1,250 stipend upon completion of program requirements, and $250 credit for materials. For more details, review the two-page Program Information Sheet. Applications are due September 16, 2024.
Learn More and Apply
Capstone Projects
As part of the fellowship, Ambassadors develop capstone projects throughout the school year. These learner-centered projects provide unique opportunities to explore the stories of the Unsung Heroes, expand the impact of lessons, and enrich teaching and learning. Capstone projects can engage students and communities through lesson plans, student art exhibitions, the annual ARTEFFECT student art competition, school-partnerships, publications, community events, and more. 
Kyle Denman Capstone Project
Ambassadors in Action!
Meet our featured Ambassador in Action Kevin Dailey, a U.S. History Teacher at Ballyshannon Middle School in Union, Kentucky.

Each ARTEFFECT Ambassador culminates their online fellowship with a capstone project that brings the inspiring stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes into their classrooms and communities. Here’s an excerpt from Kevin about his capstone project:

“My capstone was a condensed, week-long unit to incorporate ARTEFFECT into a classroom. This unit was designed as an introduction to ‘project-based learning’ and Unsung Heroes. The targeted audience of the initial program was a middle school social studies class, but my lesson plan can be adapted for all grade levels and classrooms.

After the work was completed, students showcased their work in a gallery walk for the middle school. Learning objectives included students being able to describe what it means to be a hero and to identify heroes from history, and understanding the significance of art on communicating feeling, ideals, and history.

The major lesson learned from this abbreviated project is confirmation that all students can do the ARTEFFECT project. On top of that, they can produce some incredible work discovering Unsung Heroes! The students were incredibly engaged in the process. I do believe at this scale (100+ students) and speed (one week), the written component needs to be shortened substantially. Some students struggled to complete both the artwork and the writing. For those that wish to pursue the competition, they can add to that writing as they move through the process.”

Thank you to Kevin for your dedication and exploratory arts-integration unit. Congratulations on the artworks created by the students at Ballyshannon Middle School. Looking forward to the next implementation of your lesson plan!
Stay connected with ARTEFFECT through our expanding social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Join a growing network of art educators at the
For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
ARTEFFECT Facebook
ARTEFFECT Instagram
LMC ARTEFFECT
ARTEFFECT YouTube
Copyright © 2024 Lowell Milken Center, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:

Lowell Milken Center

1 South Main St

Fort Scott, KS 66701

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Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Youth

Announcing the 2024 Lowell Milken Center Discovery Award Finalists

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August 28, 2024

Vol. 7

Announcing the

2024 Discovery Award Finalists

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Is Pleased To Reveal the 2024 Discovery Award Finalists!

The Discovery Award honors students who bring unsung heroes to the forefront through their documentaries, performances, or websites. These young historians are making an impact by uncovering stories of trailblazers and role models who shaped our world.

LMC News

Last week, we had the opportunity to host a vibrant group of international students from Cottey College at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes!

These bright young minds from around the globe were deeply engaged as they explored the inspiring stories of Unsung Heroes and discovered how ordinary people have made extraordinary impacts.  Thank you, Cottey College, for this wonderful visit!

Exciting News: Our New Digital Wall is Coming Soon!

The installation of our new interactive video wall featuring ARTEFFECT Projects is happening very soon! This dynamic display will showcase the creativity and dedication of students from around the world who have participated in our ARTEFFECT competition. The video wall will offer an engaging and immersive way to explore these impactful projects, highlighting the artistic talents and social awareness of young individuals committed to making a difference.

Partially funded by a grant from Walmart, this project is a testament to the innovative spirit of our youth and their ability to address important issues through creative expression.

Stay tuned for updates on the installation progress and be among the first to experience the stories behind the art. Get ready to be inspired by the unveiling of this exciting new addition to our museum!

Book Your Group Tour NOW at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes!

Dive into the incredible stories of history’s Unsung Heroes with a group tour at our museum.

Visitors are raving:

“Truly inspiring—an experience that will change you.”  

“A powerful reminder that one person can change the world.”

 “Our students left ready to make a difference.”

Whether you’re a school group, a community organization, a book club, or a group of friends, this is your chance to explore the lives of remarkable individuals. Fall and winter dates are filling up fast—secure your spot today!
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Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Art-focused, Project-based Learning: ARTEFFECT Ambassadors

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ARTEFFECT Ambassadors
Visual Arts Online Fellowship 2024-2025
Applications Open!
ARTEFFECT Ambassadors, now in its second year, is an online fellowship for educators working directly with students in grades 6-12 to foster the visual arts. Ambassadors learn from and alongside other high-level practitioners through art-focused, project-based learning about the inspiring and diverse stories of Unsung Heroes from history. During the 2024-2025 school year, Ambassadors participate in a series of virtual professional development sessions and complete a capstone project that engages their classrooms and communities.
Applications due Monday, September 16, 2024.
Learn More and Apply
What are some benefits of being
an ARTEFFECT Ambassador?

  • Participate in live online modules led by seasoned visual arts educators and expert practitioners―accompanied by lesson plans.
  • Hone your instructional practice and learner-centered strategies for designing project-based activities and assessments.
  • Expand the social impact of your curriculum by integrating the stories of LMC Unsung Heroes into your teaching and learning through your capstone project.
  • Represent ARTEFFECT and share the annual student competition with your classrooms, schools, districts & communities.
  • Engage in peer learning within a creative, collegial, and growing network.
  • Gain recognition through an official press release and promotions.
  • Receive a Certificate of Participation, an unrestricted $1,250 stipend, and a $250 materials credit.
Review the ARTEFEFCT Ambassadors Information Sheet for details about the program requirements, timeline, and application, review the
Download Program Info Sheet
A Growing Network of Art Educators!
The 2023-2024 inaugural Ambassadors cohort had 27 educators from across 17 U.S. States and Canada. Their capstone projects engaged their classrooms and communities with the stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes and the visual arts. These learner-centered projects included lesson plans, student art exhibitions, collaborations with partner schools, publications, presentations, community events, and more!
Congratulations to this outstanding group of educators!
Browse 2023-2024 Ambassadors Profiles
Stay connected with ARTEFFECT through our expanding social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Join a growing network of art educators at the
For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
ARTEFFECT Facebook
ARTEFFECT Instagram
LMC ARTEFFECT
ARTEFFECT YouTube
Copyright © 2024 Lowell Milken Center, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:

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Fort Scott, KS 66701

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Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Newsletter August

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August 8, 2024                                                                         Vol. 5

2024 Discovery Award Competition

The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is excited to announce that the 2024 Discovery Award Semi-Finalists will be revealed soon!

🏆 The Discovery Award celebrates students who shine a light on unsung heroes through documentaries, performances, or websites. These young researchers are making history by uncovering stories of role models who changed history.

🗓️ Stay tuned! The big announcement is just around the corner.

👀 How to stay updated:

Keep an eye on our website:

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

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Don’t miss this chance to see which inspiring projects have made it to the semi-finals. These students are not just learning history – they’re making it!

LMC News

New Interactive Video Wall Showcasing

ARTEFFECT Projects Coming Soon

We are excited to announce that installation will soon begin on our new interactive video wall, which will feature our ARTEFFECT Projects! This dynamic display will bring to life the creativity and dedication of students from around the world who have participated in our ARTEFFECT competition. The video wall will offer an engaging and immersive way to explore these impactful projects, showcasing the artistic talents and social awareness of young individuals committed to making a difference. This project was partially funded by a grant from Walmart.

Stay tuned for updates on the installation progress and be among the first to experience the stories behind the art. Get ready to be inspired by the innovative ways our youth are addressing important issues through their creative expressions.

Visitors from The J-KC were captivated by Megan Felt’s insightful tour through the Irena Sendler exhibit, discovering the powerful story behind Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project.

Students from the Compass Academy Network in Neosho, MO, enjoy a relaxing picnic in Lowell Milken Park after a motivating tour of the Hall of Unsung Heroes, where they learned about inspiring unsung hero projects.
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Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Kansas ARTS COMMISSION GRANT AWARDED TO LOWELL MILKEN CENTER

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The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes received a grant for $6,800 from the Kansas Arts Commission.! The grant will be used to honor three unsung heroes from the Japanese Internment Camps during WWII. Those unsung heroes are Mitsuye Endo, Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, and Minoru Yasui. The grant will allow for a historian presentation about the camps, a community book read of George Takei’s “The Called Us Enemy,” a public showing of the movie “Betrayed: Surviving an American Concentration Camp,” and a performance by the St. Louis Osuwa Taiko Japanese Drummers in the Lowell Milken Park at the Center.

Kansas Arts Commission: The Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) is dedicated to promoting, supporting, and expanding Kansas’ creative industries and enriching communities through arts and culture.

About the Lowell Milken Center: The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Our mission is to share those projects and the stories of these unsung heroes with our community through our museum at the Lowell Milken Center and through special cultural events.

 

 

 

 

Art, Gordon Parks Museum, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Kansas Arts Commission Funds Creative Projects Across State: Two Fort Scott Recipients

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Editor’s note: the following from Fort Scott have been awarded:

TOPEKA — Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $1,295,450 has been awarded to 108 recipients in the latest round of Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) grant funding. The funds will support museums, arts education, music, dance, visual arts, professional and community theater, creative writing, murals, poetry and other creative projects.

Grants were awarded in 42 counties, with funding going to counties in rural locations such as Graham, Sheridan and Chase, as well as urban areas including Johnson, Sedgwick and Shawnee counties.

“It is important for the state to engage, connect and support the abundant creativity that can be found throughout Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kelly-Toland Administration knows strategic investments in the arts enrich our communities, strengthen our economy, and enhance our quality of life — all which make our state the best in the nation to live, work and play.”

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported in 2022 that arts and cultural production accounted for 2.2% of the Kansas economy (as a share of state GDP), contributing more than 41,000 jobs.

KAC awarded four types of grants:

  • The Arts Everywhere grant provides funding for programs, exhibition, series or other arts and culture projects
  • The General Operating Support grant funds the general operations of an arts organization
  • The Visiting Artists grant brings professional artists to audiences for performances and community interaction
  • The Public Art and Murals grant supports art that highlights community pride and local history

“We are grateful for the 57 volunteer panelists who help this process run effectively and efficiently,” Kansas Arts Commission Director Curtis Young said. “Because of their time and dedication, we are able to fund a wide array of community projects across Kansas.”

Funding for Kansas Arts Commission grants comes from the Kansas Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

To view the full list of recipients, click here. To learn more about the Kansas Arts Commission or funding opportunities, click here or contact Ben Stanton at [email protected] or (785) 213-5959.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes July Newsletter

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July 2024                                                                              Vol. 4

Triple Excitement: Competition Results, LMC Fellows, and Fresh Exhibits

Pictured are Suzy Turner, Kadence Huck, Madison Glidden, and Megan Helberg.

On June 26, 2024, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes unveiled exhibit panels featuring two new Unsung Heroes. The ceremony was held inside the Center’s Hall of Heroes, with one newly revealed exhibit honoring Dr. Christine Grant, the University of Iowa’s first director of women’s intercollegiate athletics. She was a national pioneer and voice in the fight for gender equity in athletics, significantly impacting the implementation of Title IX. The second honoree was Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American doctor in the United States, a champion for her people’s well-being, and a powerful role model for Native Americans and women in medicine.

Featured VIPs included nationally recognized teachers and their students, whose award-winning projects shared the stories of these heroes. Suzy Turner, teacher and 2022 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow from Iowa, and Kadence Huck, one of the three students whose research uncovered the story of Unsung Hero Dr. Christine Grant, were present to reveal their project. Madison Glidden, who researched and discovered Unsung Hero Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, attended with her teacher, 2021 National Lowell Milken Center Fellow Megan Helberg from Nebraska.

Additional VIP guests were Susan Picotte, the great-granddaughter of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, and Susan’s niece, Holly. Honored VIPs representing Dr. Christine Grant were her niece, Andrea Weiss, and Dr. Grant’s best friend and former colleague from the University of Iowa, Peg Burke. Other honored guests included the new 2024 Lowell Milken Center National Fellowship members, former National Lowell Milken Center Fellows Carly Bowden and Jennifer Farr, as well as family members and guests of the award-winning students and teachers.

Many guests joined us to celebrate the extraordinary lives of our two new unsung heroes, who have profoundly impacted history.

These new exhibits were made possible through a 2024 Attraction Development Grant awarded to the Lowell Milken Center from Kansas Tourism. The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 © (3) that works with students and educators within diverse academic disciplines to develop projects focused on unsung heroes.

The 2024 ARTEFFECT Competition received a record-breaking number of entries!

We extend our gratitude to all participating students and their teachers.

Fellows News

The 2024 National LMC Fellow from week 1 are: (sitting) Erica Quale, ND; Aaron Kruger, WY; and Michael Sandstrom, NE; (standing) John Rosenbaum, RI; and Kelly Hamilton, ID.

The LMC Fellowship unites top educators for a prestigious, merit-based professional development opportunity with high standards of excellence, output, and benefits. Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources, and ongoing support to enhance their classrooms and help students cultivate a passion for learning by creating projects that initiate positive change.

The LMC Fellowship provides educators with an opportunity to reflect, reenergize, and strategize. Fellows receive personal attention from our dedicated team of educational experts and time to network and collaborate with their exemplary peers. The program strengthens educators’ abilities to facilitate student ownership over projects and to help their students develop skills in critical thinking, research, analysis, and application. Fellows emerge prepared to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students as they apply and evaluate the stories of role models who have changed the world.

The 2024 National LMC Fellow from week 2 are: Bibba Kahn, VT; Sarah Espinal, NY; Ann Marie Vanneste, Canada; Matthew Mayeske, KS; Ashley Libben, IN, and Leah Lawrence, MO.

2024 Lowell Milken Center Fellows Receive Keys to the City

As part of their week-long experience in Fort Scott, the five fellows for June 16 – 21 were given the key to the city on Tuesday, June 18th, by Jackson Tough, Tourism Director.

Pictured are (seated) Aaron Kruger, WY; Michael Sandstrom, NE; John Rosenbaum, RI; (standing) Erica Quale, ND; Kelly Hamilton, ID.

Six fellows for June 23 – 28 were given the key to the city on Tuesday, June 25th, by Jackson Tough, Tourism Director. During the presentation of the keys, Tourism Director Jackson Tough told both groups, “From Gordon Parks to the history of the Fort and the National Cemetery, along with this amazing place, the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, we realize that Fort Scott is the home of heroes. Now we add you, the Lowell Milken Fellows to that list of heroes. You influence so many young people. You mold them, inspire them, and give them direction. We truly welcome you to our community and as a small token of our appreciation, we present each of you with a key to the city of Fort Scott.”

Pictured are (seated) Ann Marie Vanneste, Canada; Matthew Mayeske, KS; Sarah Espinal, NY; Leah Lawrence, MO; (standing) Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce; Ashley Libben, IN; Bibba Kahn, VT; Jackson Tough, City of Fort Scott Public Relations and Tourism Director.

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.

LMC News

Experience the June 26 Exhibit Unveiling!

We are thrilled to share the highlights from our June 26 exhibit unveiling, featuring the inspiring stories of Dr. Christine Grant and Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte. Our YouTube video captures the essence of this special event, showcasing the beautiful exhibit panels and the heartfelt moments shared by VIP guests, including nationally recognized teachers, students, and family members of the honorees.

Watch the video now to experience the excitement and honor these remarkable Unsung Heroes!