Friend of Education awards announced

Eight individuals and one organization received Friend of Education awards recently as part of State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster’s State of Education address and program in the State Capitol in Madison.

“These individuals make significant contributions to public education in Wisconsin,” Burmaster said. “They understand that education is the foundation of our democracy. They work on behalf of today’s youth because they know that the long-term economic security and quality of life in Wisconsin is dependent on how we educate this generation.” Burmaster presented awards to:

Alexis Anderson-Reed of Madison, and Jennifer Epps of Milwaukee, students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who worked on school funding reform in Wisconsin through Youth Reclaiming Our Communities (Youth ROC), a statewide organization that works with high school students. They organized the first state Youth Summit on School Finance, focusing on engaging youth from urban, suburban, and rural communities to organize grass roots action on school funding.

JoAnne Brandes, executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and general counsel for JohnsonDiversey, a global corporation based in Racine, for her passion for quality education, child care, and mentoring professional women. Brandes served as chair of the State Superintendent’s High School Task Force, was a regent of the University of Wisconsin System from 1996 to 2003, and is the founder of the Johnson Wax Child Care Center and the Franklin Education Foundation.

Salvador Carranza of Madison, for his leadership in international education. Through his work at the University of Wisconsin System and on the Wisconsin International Education Council he is helping forge links with postsecondary education institutions internationally, especially in Wisconsin’s sister state of Jalisco, Mexico.

William Houlihan of Madison, arbitrator/mediator with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, for his skill and integrity in facilitating multi-party negotiations on Wisconsin’s new special education law. The bill incorporated changes in federal law and met provisions important to Wisconsin educators and parents. Every stakeholder testified in support of the bill, it passed unanimously the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly, and was signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle last April.

Thomas Lee of Wausau, diversity affairs officer for the city of Wausau and Marathon County, for his advocacy for Hmong people. He organized a Hmong Leadership Program to encourage service in the Wausau community, coordinates the local Hmong radio and TV news shows, serves on the Wausau Wisconsin Educational Opportunities Program (WEOP) Parent Advisory Board, participates in youth career awareness events, and supervises the WEOP summer internship program.

Nancy Schopf, vice president for education and leadership of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, for her work on the chamber’s Partners in Education Program. Her activities include Partners in Education scholarships; Brown County Teen Leadership, and Youth Entrepreneurs programs; Golden Apple Awards; Educators in the Workplace experience; and “Yes, School Counts!”, a community campaign to promote and increase daily attendance by students.

Veterans of the Menominee Nation, a community-based organization led by Warren Wilber. Members serve as role models who work in schools, sharing experiences and teaching students; lead special programs; and provide scholarships and financial support to students.

Peter Yang, executive director of the Wausau Area Hmong Association, for his leadership in promoting the value of education. Yang has pursued grants and developed programs to increase literacy in the Hmong community, particularly among Hmong elders and at-risk youth. He has been instrumental in developing Hmong radio and TV news programs so Hmong families have access to local news.

Photographs from the Friend of Education awards ceremony are available in the state superintendent’s photo gallery on the Department of Public Instruction website.

Last updated on 10/2/2006