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.