CTAUN’s 2005 BEST PRACTICES AWARD

Awards for the best educational practices developed from the 2005 CTAUN Conferences were presented by Phyllis Hickey, Second Vice-Chair of CTAUN and principal of the Plainfield Catholic School in Plainfield, Connecticut. Recipients of the award also received a copy of the book Water, the Drop of Life by Peter Swanson and a copy of the book Tip and Top, The Adventures of Two Water Drops personally autographed by its author Mrs. Nane Annan.

The first award was presented to Lauren Fiorentino, a television producer through Queens Public Access TV. She produced a ½ hour show entitled “A World Out of Balance: Seeking Solutions Through Education and the United Nations.” Members of the Garden City Long Island branch of the American Association of University Women participated in the dialogue throughout the TV program, which was viewed by many in the community at large.

The second award went to Dr. Diana Papademas, who was the coordinator of the U.N. Project at the State University of New York/Old Westbury. The library exhibit and curriculum materials center were the special projects that complemented the instructional component offered at the college. The integration of the instructional component with an exhibit and the assembling of a curriculum resource collection suggest an adaptable model for other schools and colleges. The exhibit was designed to display compelling U.N. materials, publications, and posters on the global themes of peace, development and human rights, all of which enriches instruction in cross-cultural analysis.

The third award was presented to Meghan Lahey and Emma Wixted from Scarsdale Middle School, Scarsdale, New York. They coordinated a full-day conference for 1200 middle school students entitled “Think Globally, Act Locally: Individuals Making a Difference in the World.” The conference also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, which has served as a model for how the international community can come together to ensure peace, promote tolerance, respond to humanitarian disasters, and thus inspire students to take action. The conference featured keynote speakers, and the students attended breakout forums throughout the day. Plans have already begun for a second conference this coming spring.