2009 KIRKLAND FELLOWS ANNOUNCED
Jenny Waligory-Lee and Amy Deller-Pape have been selected to receive Kirkland Fellowships, an award of the Hayes-Couper Fund at The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida, for 2009.
Waligory-Lee will use her fellowship to travel to India for a cultural study, while Deller-Pape will use hers to attend the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) 18th annual Summer Institute at Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake.
Jenny Waligory-Lee was a Kirkland Fellow in 2005, when she used her award to travel to China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. She has since incorporated what she learned on that trip into her curriculum, and has seen a 2.5 percent increase in the number of her students who passed the Global History and Geography Regents Exam. In addition, there was a 34.6 percent increase in the number of her students who achieved mastery (a score of 85 percent or higher) of that statewide test.
Waligory-Lee said, “I find that in an increasingly globalized world, my first hand experiences allow my students to truly understand the concepts that we are learning in class. In essence, I become a primary source for my students; a source which I hope will open their eyes to the possibilities, differences, and commonalities amongst all people throughout the world.” She plans to incorporate her experiences in India into her classroom so her students can learn more about this ever more important global power.
This is the first Kirkland Fellowship for Amy Deller-Pape. The theme of the summer institute she is attending is “Turning A New Leaf, Keeping It Green,” and will focus on environmentally responsible art. Deller-Pape believes this will be especially valuable to her middle school students, as they are learning to express themselves in ways that are more sophisticated and they have an interest in recycling and the environment.
Deller-Pape said, “The unique and diverse opportunities offered through the institute are a perfect complement to my philosophy of teaching. Specifically, I look forward to exploring book art with my 8th grade class as we explore a unit on Civil Rights, book making, and printmaking as art. I am thrilled to have been chosen for this unique opportunity and look forward to sharing the insights and experiences gained with my students and the Fellowship Committee.”
The Kirkland Fellowship program was established in 1997 provides funding for teachers in the Clinton Central School District to conduct research or study that will ultimately enhance classroom learning for their students.
Previous fellowship recipient are:
- 1997: Mary Ann Hamlin Lee, Andrew Bankert and Mary Paul
- 1998: Theresa Huggins and Andrew Bankert
- 1999: Christina L. Brown, Patricia Dawes and Erin Dineen
- 2000: Andrew Bankert, Nancy Zumpano, Irene Parish and Marjorie Duus
- 2001: Nancy Zumpano, Marjorie Duus, Frank Cittadino and Andrew Bankert
- 2002: Andrew Bankert, Susan Bell and Theresa Huggins
- 2003: Marjorie Duus and Frank Cittadino
- 2004: Diane Feliz, Helen Leonard, Irene Parish
- 2005: Laurie Burns and Jenny Waligory
- 2006: Diane Feliz and Jenna Wratten
- 2007: no fellowships awarded
- 2008: Monica Caughey-Moshier, Marjorie LaBella and Jenna Wratten
