Purdue News

Olin W. Davis Award winners announced WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Teachers from nine Indiana schools were honored recently for outstanding contributions to economic literacy when they received the 1999 Olin W. Davis Award for Exemplary Teaching of Economics in Indiana. The awards were presented by EconomicsAmerica, a program of the Indiana Council for Economic Education, which is based at Purdue. The award is named for late Purdue Professor Olin Davis, who established economic education programs at the university. "We are especially proud of the Olin Davis Award winners' ability to use the ICEE's EconomicsAmerica curriculum materials to teach economics in a creative, interesting way," said Harlan R. Day, executive director of the ICEE. "This year is the first in a five-year National Campaign for Economic Literacy, spearheaded by the National Council for Economic Education, the ICEE's parent organization. As a significant part of this national campaign, the ICEE is committed to recognizing and rewarding teachers who excel in promoting economic literacy in their classrooms." Award recipients were judged on a number of criteria, including professional training and teaching experience, special classroom projects in economic education, influence on school economic education programs, involvement in economic education activities outside the classroom, and letters of recommendations. State and regional winners received $500 and a plaque. This year's statewide award winner is Kathy Ann Heyse of Mishawaka, who teaches at Ox Bow Elementary in Elkhart. The regional winners are: Donald R. Porter of Rushville, Rushville Consolidated High School in Rushville. Cynthia E. Baney of Fishers, Carmel Elementary School in Carmel. Sherrie L. Oman of Elkhart, Ox Bow Elementary in Elkhart. Wendy A. Martin of Greenwood, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis. Judith A. Lane of Fountaintown, Hawthorne Elementary School in Indianapolis. Brian N. Fultz of Lafayette, Happy Hollow Elementary School in West Lafayette. Honorable mention teachers are: Michelle Boyd of Indianapolis, Eagle Elementary in Brownsburg. Sue Jones of Lafayette, Tecumseh Middle School in Lafayette. Future plans for the national campaign include providing professional development for teachers, creating "Economics for Life" volunteer programs, and continuing publication of electronic and print materials geared for grades K-12. "The ICEE believes that Hoosier students need a solid grasp of basic economics if they are to prosper as consumers, savers, investors and workers. Our EconomicsAmerica programs give students this basic understanding," Day said. The Olin W. Davis Award is sponsored by the ICEE with additional funding from the Indiana Farm Bureau and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. CONTACT: Day, (765) 494-854 To the Purdue News and Photos Page