Oct. 6, 2008

The Michigan Historical Center Foundation today announced the recipients of the 2008 Odyssey Award, honoring educators who excel at teaching Michigan history. Three teachers - Mitch Lutzke and Anne Wade from Williamston High School and Darrin Silvester from Salem High School in Canton - will receive the award during the 2008 Jingle Ball on Saturday, Nov. 22, 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 - will include 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 more details or to make reservations, visit www.michigan.gov/jingleball or call (517) 373-2565. Jason Colthorp of WILX-TV will host this year's gala.

Proceeds from the event go toward the Michigan Historical Center's award-winning education programs, which reach more than 80,000 Michigan students every year.

"These exceptional teachers find unique ways to engage their students, get them excited about Michigan history, and cultivate a sense of belonging that inspires students to give something back to their community and our state," said Pat Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center Foundation. "The Jingle Ball is an opportunity both to recognize the excellent work of Michigan history educators and to support museum education programs that complement teachers' efforts to provide an up-close, hands-on look at our state's heritage."

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 2008 Odyssey Award are:

Mitch Lutzke - Williamston High School
A teacher at Williamston High School since 1995, Lutzke designed a Michigan History Research and Development course in which students use a combination of traditional research and modern technology to develop new Michigan history records, which are shared with the community. Among the unique ways they have learned about state and local history, Lutzke's students have written over 75 articles for the local newspaper, produced a video focusing on the role of train service in the community's development, designed a local history coloring book for elementary students, created displays for the local museum based on their research into various aspects of the area's history and developed a brochure about the history of Williamston-area homes.

Darrin Silvester - Salem High School in Canton
Silvester, who has taught at Salem High School since 1995, has a deep knowledge of local history cultivated by time spent both studying the local museum's archives and talking to community members and documenting their stories of the past. He has fostered his students' interest in history through many creative projects, including archiving hundreds of hours of oral histories; clearing, restoring and sharing with the community a forgotten pioneer cemetery; documenting in photographs, drawings and narratives the story of a historic barn, which led to its preservation and relocation; researching, writing, illustrating and publishing a children's book about a local pioneer; and researching, writing and performing a program of historical dramas for a community Memorial Day celebration.

Anne Wade - Williamston High School
During her time teaching history at Williamston High School since 1998, Wade has utilized a variety of methods to help her students connect with Michigan history, such as researching the circumstances surrounding the migration of a relative to the state or studying primary sources like diary excerpts, images and pieces of music. She implemented a yearlong program to teach her students about the Depression era, culminating in a daylong visit to the Michigan Library and Historical Center, where they explored documents in the Archives of Michigan and the Library of Michigan's Martha W. Griffiths Michigan Rare Book Room and spent time in the Michigan Historical Museum's galleries learning from first-hand accounts of Michiganians who struggled through the Great Depression.

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

The Michigan Historical Center 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, the Archives of Michigan, Records Management Services, archaeological and historic preservation programs, and publications, including Michigan History magazine.

The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL), whose mission is to enrich quality of life and strengthen the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan heritage, and fostering cultural creativity. The department also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).