Announcements for Awards

Music Educator of the Year Award
Each year, the Oregon Symphony recognizes excellence in Music Education through the Patty Vemer Music Educator of the Year Award. The Symphony honors those who have made significant contributions to the field of music education and who have inspired their students. For more information or questions, contact Oregon Symphony Education & Community Engagement at (503) 416.6312; or to download award details and nomination form, visit http://admin.orsymphony.org/edu/vemer.html.
All nominations are due by Friday, January 9, 2009 by 5 pm.

President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) Program
The President's Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) program recognizes young people in all 50 states and the U.S. territories for projects which demonstrate their commitment to the environment. To be eligible to compete, a student or students, sponsored by an adult, must submit evidence of a completed project as defined in the PEYA application, as well as a completed application, to the EPA Region 10 office. For more information, contact Sally Hanft, EPA Region 10 Environmental Education Grant Coordinator and President's Environmental Youth Awards Program Coordinator, at hanft.sally@epa.gov, (206) 553-1207 / toll free 1-800-424-4372.
EPA Region 10 Submission Deadline: October 31.
www.epa.gov/enviroed/peya/index.html

Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award
The Milken Family Foundation was established in 1982. Recipients of this award are selected by an independent blue-ribbon committee appointed by each state's department of education. Predetermined criteria for the award include exceptional educational talent and promise; distinguished achievement in developing innovative educational curricula, programs and/or teaching methods; outstanding ability to instill in students character and self-confidence, and commitment to professional development. See the Oregon Department of Education's Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award web site here.

Christopher Columbus Awards Program
The Christopher Columbus Awards Program combines science and technology with community problem-solving. Students work in teams with the help of an adult coach to identify an issue they care about and, using science and technology, work with experts, conduct research, and put their ideas to the test to develop an innovative solution. Maximum Award: $25,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to attend the program's National Championship Week. Eligibility: middle-school-age (sixth, seventh, and eighth grade) children; teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter.
http://www.christophercolumbusawards.com/