Alphabetically by Award

Stakeholder Category

Conference Theme Award
Maximo MicroSociety and Visual Arts Magnet School
St. Petersburg, FL
This special award is for the conference theme -- Science, Engineering and Entrepreneurship. One of the best examples of incorporating 21st century science ventures that are also green ventures occurs at the Maximo MicroSociety and Visual Arts Magnet School in St Petersburg, Florida.

 

 

Evans Clinchy Award
F. Joseph Merlino 
21st Century Partnership for STEM Education
Philadelphia, PA
Joseph Merlino has been researching what works to increase the breadth and depth of student learning in the areas of science and math for more than 15 years. He has concluded that student engagement is a key and too often ignored factor in determining readiness to pursue careers in the STEM field. As founder and president of 21PSTEM, a consortium of non-profits, universities, and government agencies with a $9.95 million U.S. Department of Education grant, he has a mandate to create a national center for cognition and science instruction. His organization builds relationships with regional partners in order to design interventions and conduct research in this area. 21PSTEM has been the recipient of multi-year, multi-million dollar projects including ones funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education. Mr. Merlino currently serves on the Design Team for Pennsylvania’s STEM Center initiative and previously was a commissioner on Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell’s Commission on College and Career Success.

Heart Awards The HEART Award is MicroSociety’s oldest award.  Our four recipients have four important things in common: with more than a decade of MicroSociety experience on their resumes, each one of them is a MicroSociety Certified National Trainer, has been a coordinator of their individual schools, and has gone beyond the call of duty many times to help MicroSociety service the children of Philadelphia. For their service to the field and their dedication to children, all are deserving of the organization’s most revered award.
Maureen Alloway	Deborah Camper	Valerie Finney	Andrea Seitchik

Outstanding Community Partner Achievement Alan Butkovitz City Controller Philadelphia, PA Prior to his election as Philadelphia City Controller in 2005, Alan Butkovitz served 15 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where he acquired a reputation for hard work, independence and innovative ideas. As a community partner, Mr. Butkovitz has served as a trusted advisor to the founders of MicroSociety since its inception and has advocated for program expansion throughout the state of Pennsylvania. He embodies in his work all those traits we want to see children develop: tenacity, forthrightness, ethics, leadership, and that very special fearlessness that enables one to challenge the status quo and stand up for what’s right, regardless of the consequences.

Outstanding Coordinator Achievement Amanda Kitterman-Miller Arthur Eddy Academy Saginaw, MI The successful day-to-day operation of a MicroSociety school is largely dependent on the coordinator. Ms. Kitterman-Miller was honored at the 17th Annual National Conference in Philadelphia because of her unwavering commitment to empowering children even as the school weathered changes in leadership and educational priorities. Her principal noted that MicroSociety might not have survived without her and that she was instrumental in turning around “a once decimated program into a highly visible, respected, and award winning one in the district and beyond.”

Outstanding Innovator Achievement Anne Ferguson The Chiles Academy Daytona Beach, FL As the founder of MicroSociety’s only program for special-needs high school students, Anne is a true innovator. She was honored at the 17th Annual National Conference in Philadelphia for creatively using MicroSociety to make secondary education at Chiles Academy relevant while addressing the educational, social, and emotional needs of pregnant and mothering teens. The school has successfully kept these young women in school and provided them with a strong foundation of life skills not just for themselves but for their children has earned the respect and recognition of the district leadership and community.

Outstanding Parent Achievement Kathy Rodgers Nimitz Middle School Tulsa, OK Ms. Rodgers continues to volunteer for the MicroSociety after school program although she no longer has a child at Nimitz Middle School. Her reputation for unwavering dedication to the students, her tireless determination to help them make their own choices, and her ability to encourage them sufficiently to assume leadership roles has at times surprised some of the students most ardent advocates. In addition, she was recognized for the many roles she plays in the MicroSociety program – from mentor, to grant writer, to expert facilitator.

Outstanding Principal Achievement Connie Maheshwari Sam Houston Elementary School McAllen, TX Ms. Maheshwari is a long-time advocate and highly successful building administrator of one of the oldest MicroSociety schools in the country.  This passionate practitioner of hands-on, experiential learning is honored for not only starting the first MicroSociety school in south Texas but for ensuring its long term sustainability.  It is still going strong more than a decade later in part because of the extraordinary relationships and trust she established with community partners.

Outstanding Teacher Achievement Cindy Rael Duranes Elementary School Albuquerque, NM Great teachers are often great fun.  Ms. Rael is definitely both. She has built a reputation for hard work and effectively enabling students to have voice and choice and take ownership of their miniature society. She is also recognized for her ability to consistently integrate the real world activities of MicroSociety with academic learning and standards.

Alumni Category

Outstanding Alumni Achievement Alina Ispas Alina began her illustrious career as a graduate of a Philadelphia MicroSociety school and interned with MicroSociety Headquarters.  A graduate of Philadelphia’s most renowned High School as well as the prestigious Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Ipsas has been a volunteer for more than 10 years with the American Red Cross. She has served on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter’s Board of Directors as a Youth Representative and as a member and ultimately, treasurer of the Red Cross’ National Youth Council based out of Washington, DC. Still committed to that organization, she is currently getting her training as a disaster response team member for hurricane response.

Iesha Turner Iesha is a remarkable young woman who was a student at the Chiles Academy for three years. Chiles Academy is a MicroSociety alternative school for pregnant teens and teen-aged mothers. Against all odds and through great perseverance during her three years she moved from restaurant worker selling nachos, to a bank teller and then a bank manager. She then ran for MicroSociety president. She became a leader at her school, spearheading a fundraising effort for the senior trip to Disney Hollywood studios. Upon graduation, Chiles immediately hired Iesha as an employee in the school’s child care center where she worked while completing her certification as a phlebotomist. All of this was done despite great turmoil in her life.

Student Category

Outstanding Leadership Achievement Nicholas Miranda Cora Services MicroSociety AfterSchool program Thurgood Marshall School Philadelphia, PA

Outstanding Student Agency The Care Bears Health Center Child First AfterSchool program Bay Brook Elementary Baltimore, MD This agency was recognized “as a shining example of how the medical professions can be an important part of MicroSociety’s real world learning environment.”  These students run a health clinic that helps other students learn about keeping their bodies healthy, good eating habits, as well as first aid. Some of the agencies products include first-aid kits, get well cards, lap blankets, and homemade flowers.

Outstanding Student Venture Theatrical Mime Academy Arthur Eddy Academy Saginaw, MI This award goes to an extraordinary entertainment student venture that has been so successful it has developed a following not only in the school but throughout the city. Students Darius Trice and Dyiamond Snow had a vision to educate people about the history of mime and then to show how entertaining it could be. They have been so successful that they negotiated with Spotlight Entertainment for the development of a series of tapes and DVDs. Not only that, they have taken their show on the road, going on tour during Black History month to five elementary schools, a middle school and a church! For their final performance of the year they took their kindergarten buddies on the road with them as they also served as mentors and role models for younger students.

Outstanding Student Venture Zoo Tycoon Imagine Schools at South Vero Vero Beach, FL This enterprising venture was recognized as an example of how to get a local company involved in making a student business successful. One student’s love of animals led to a great idea.  He contacted PetCo and a friendship was born.  PetCo now provides tablecloths, uniforms, and of course, pets and also advises them on handling the animals. Students research animal habitats and then discuss and write about what they have learned. The local PetCo staff fell in love with MicroSociety and persuaded the national headquarters to offer the same services to MicroSociety schools wherever they have a PetCo facility.

Click below to view our past awardees: 1997 - 2008:

2008 - Real World Learning: For The Global Child, San Diego, California

2007 - Education for the 21st Century, Tucson, Arizona

2006 - Voice and Choice, Detroit, Michigan

Other Conference Awardees: 1997 - 2005