Teachers to Receive Odyssey Award at Nov. 21 Jingle Ball Gala

Sept. 29, 2009

The Michigan History Foundation today announced the recipients of the 2009 Odyssey Award, honoring educators who excel at finding creative, engaging ways to educate students about Michigan history. Three teachers - Laura Betzoldt from Manchester Middle School (Manchester Community Schools), Rosemary Johnson from Redford Union High School (Redford Union Schools) and Laura Sullivan from Douglas Elementary School (Saugatuck Public Schools) - will receive their awards during the 2009 Jingle Ball on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing.

Reservations are now being taken for the Jingle Ball, which - in addition to the presentation of the Odyssey awards - includes musical entertainment, an array of food and beverages and the opportunity for guests to find some early holiday shopping deals on great silent-auction items. For information and reservations, visit www.jingleball.net or call (517) 373-2565. Proceeds from this event support the Michigan Historical Center's award-winning education programs, connecting with more than 80,000 Michigan students every year.

"This year's Odyssey Award winners truly understand that 'knowing your roots' and having a firm sense of place and home are key to forging a path to where you want to be," said Pat Clark, director of the Michigan History Foundation. "The Jingle Ball is an opportunity both to recognize these teachers' excellent efforts and to support museum-education programs that take history out from behind the glass and let visitors see, hear, touch and imagine the people, places and milestones of our collective story."

Odyssey Award recipients, who will each receive a plaque and $500, were selected based upon their depth of knowledge about Michigan history, creativity in teaching Michigan history and demonstrated leadership in helping others learn about Michigan history, both in their local school district and in the community.

Recipients of the 2009 Odyssey Award are:

Laura Betzoldt, retired from Manchester Middle School
(Manchester Community Schools)

As an educator for 31 years, Laura Betzoldt of Onsted ? now retired ? brought a tremendous amount of experience to her Manchester Middle School students. In her "Living Through History" classes, Betzoldt helped her students experience everything from settling a village and marshaling a bill through the legislative process, to studying for the bar exam and pitching a camp in a Civil War settlement. Michigan history took on new meaning for students, as Betzoldt helped kids to see that history is more than pages in a book or artifacts in a trunk. Because of her approach to teaching, Betzoldt's students were able to apply what they had learned to present-day challenges, asking intelligent questions and actively engaging in discussions about local economy and larger societal issues. Beyond the classroom, Betzoldt was also a passionate advocate in the community and with her fellow teachers, helping to spread her enthusiasm for Michigan history.

Rosemary Johnson from Redford Union High School
(Redford Union Schools)

Capturing the attention and imagination of today's high-schoolers is no simple task, and getting students excited about Michigan history is perhaps a still bigger challenge. All in a day's work for Redford resident Rosemary Johnson, a history teacher for 10 years at Redford Union High School. Johnson has been praised for being "a champion of all the many cherished stories ? of the precious history of Michigan" and for her focus on "the often-overlooked parts of history." In her classroom, students are treated to a living-history lesson, whether on a scavenger hunt using Michigan Historical Markers, enjoying a show-and-tell with local games, food and beverages, or experiencing a day-in-the-life of an Upper Peninsula iron ore miner, a pioneer forging new ground, or a Native American surviving a harsh Great Lakes winter. An hour spent in Johnson's classroom is a step back from the whirlwind, download-it-now culture and a step toward a deeper appreciation and understanding of Michigan history.

Laura Sullivan from Douglas Elementary School
(Saugatuck Public Schools)

For 20 years, Laura Sullivan has used her creative thinking to find new ways to connect with her 4th-grade students on the subject of Michigan history and make it relevant to today's world. Depending on the day, students can find themselves on a field trip to Lansing to see history in the making; canoeing to learn about the rivers traveled by Native Americans; exploring Holland's Outdoor Discovery Center to learn about early settlers' survival techniques; hearing local guest speakers to broaden understanding; or participating in teleconferences to reach beyond the community's borders. In addition to Sullivan's deep knowledge of Michigan history and her ability to creatively share that knowledge with her students, she is also adept at building lesson plans and educational opportunities that cater to students' varied learning styles.

Award recipients will be invited to share their ideas and expertise with other educators via the Web at www.jingleball.net.

The Michigan History Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that supports the work of the Michigan Historical Center. The center includes the Michigan Historical Museum, 10 regional museums and the Archives of Michigan.