Indianapolis - One of the major components of the Central Indiana Education Alliance’s first ‘Education Weekend’ are the Rotary Education Weekend Equity Awards Friday, May 16, 2014 at the Ruby Bridges’ Exhibit in the Power of Children Gallery at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The program, being held from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm by invitation only, will honor an “unsung hero” in education, an outstanding school administrator, top teacher and a group of standout student-athletes.
Rotary Education Weekend Equity Awards
(Note: Winners will be announced at the program)
The Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter Award will be presented to a citizen of central Indiana who is an "unsung hero" for education. The awardee will represent the ideals of Cardinal Ritter and reflect the definition of success as put forth by the Central Indiana Education Alliance. Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter became the seventh Bishop and first archbishop of Indianapolis. Cardinal Ritter became known for his work in desegregation. In 1938, he ordered all Catholic schools in the diocese to integrate, sixteen years before Brown v. Board of Education. He was appointed the first Archbishop in Indianapolis in 1944.
The Father Boniface Hardin Award will be presented to a present or former central Indiana educational administrator, K-12 or Post Grad 12. The awardee will represent the ideals of Father Hardin and reflect the definition of success put forth by the Central Indiana Education Alliance. Father Boniface Hardin founded the Martin Center in Indianapolis in 1969, the precursor of Martin University. Named in honor of both St. Martin de Porres and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Martin University was founded in 1977 by Father Hardin and Sister Jane Schilling. Its mission was to serve low-income, minority, and adult learners. Father Hardin retired as the university's president in 2007.
The Jacqueline S. Greenwood, Ph.D. Award will be presented to a present or former central Indiana teacher, K-12 or Post Grade 12. The awardee will represent the ideals of Dr. Greenwood and reflect the definition of success as put forth by the Central Indiana Education Alliance. Jacqueline S. Greenwood, Ph.D., has served the Indianapolis Public Schools for five decades. In 1987, Dr. Greenwood became the first female high school principal in the history of Indianapolis Public Schools an honor nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education While enhancing student achievement; Redbook Magazine named Arlington High School as one of the nation’s top schools for community and parental involvement during Dr. Greenwood’s tenure. The former teacher, now Director of Secondary Schools for IPS, has received numerous awards such as The Indianapolis Star’s Woman of the Year.
The Bart Peterson Award will be presented to a current K-12 or college student. The awardee will represent the innovative entrepreneurship of Bart Peterson and reflect the definition of success as put forth by the Central Indiana Education Alliance. Bart Peterson, elected Mayor of Indianapolis in 2000, provided transformational leadership for education, enhancing educational alternatives, (choices for students and families); creating compelling reason for public school leaders to introduce their own innovations; and impacting America's traditional district public school model. He remains Board of Directors Chair for The Mind Trust, an organization he founded in 2006 with David Harris, to promote entrepreneurship in education.
The program is being presented by the Indianapolis Rotary Club, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission and the Indianapolis Recorder.
The Central Indiana Education Alliance, formerly known as the Talent Alliance, is a coalition of Indianapolis-area leaders in business, government, education and non-profits aimed at producing a more educated workforce.