4th Annual Susan B. Wilson
Civic Education Merit Award Ceremony
2010-2011

June 14, 2011
RI State House
Keynote Speaker: RI Education Commissioner Deborah Gist

Amanda Murphy	James Silva	Michael Kuriscak	Mark Manzo

Westerly High School teachers, Jay Fusco, Jeri Muccio, Amanda Murphy and Matt Nichols who received the Grand Prize of $800. They developed a new program call "Citizenship In A Democracy." This program designed especially for seniors gave students who were about to cross the threshold into full-fledged citizenship an intense immersion experience in being an active member of a democratic society. Their program was found by the judges to be multi-faceted, well designed and highly successful.

Rogers High School (Newport) teachers, Colleen Kiernan Hermes, Stephen Ferris, Marylou Butterfield, John Heino, Jim Silva and Mike Kuriscak who received the Jury Prize of $500. Their students studied the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and focused particularly on the letter that President Washington wrote to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport in which he confirmed his belief in tolerance and religious freedom. Students were required to write an essay on "How well has America upheld the principles of religious tolerance as expressed by Washington in his letter?" Our judges were impressed with the historical underpinnings of this program as well as the creativity involved.

E-Cubed Academy (Providence) teacher, Mark Manzo received Honorable mention, $200. Throughout his career Mr. Manzo has been involved in numerous programs that support Civic Education. Some of the notables are the use of "We the People" program in his classroom, the creation of a student government, and the development of thematic units that promote the importance of what it means to be an American. Mr. Manzo is a teacher who believes in getting his students to become better citizens and participate in the political process.

SEE VIDEO June 14, 2011
READ AGENDA June 14, 2011
READ PRESS RELEASE June 1, 2011

3rd Annual Susan B. Wilson
Civic Education Merit Award Ceremony
2009-2010

Deborah Marcello & Greg Quirk of Portsmouth Middle School and Susan Burt Squillante of Feinstein Middle School in Coventry were the 2009-2010 Susan B. Wilson Civic Education Merit Award winners.

Deborah Marcello & Greg Quirk won 1st prize for their US Election Process Unit, developed by Ms. Marcello, which gives students an opportunity to learn how the election process works by directly participating in an election, both as a candidate and poll worker. The students join a political party and prepare a campaign for themselves as a presidential candidate for the 8th grade class. Primary elections in both parties yield candidates, who make commercials and give speeches in front of the entire class. A general election is held and students elect a class president.

Susan Burt Squillante won 2nd prize for her work as a trainer of other teachers in such programs as Project Citizen, the School Violence Prevention Demonstration Program and the national Serve & Learn network.

SEE VIDEO June 9, 2010
READ AGENDA June 9, 2010
READ PRESS RELEASE June 9, 2010

2nd Annual Susan B. Wilson
Civic Education Merit Award Ceremony
2008-2009

	1st Place Award Lawrence Verria of North Kingstown High School for helping students organize election year candidate forums.
	2nd Place Award Colleen Chappell of Curtis Corner Middle School, South Kingstown for innovative ways to teach the constitution.
	3rd Place Award Michael Calenda and Jonathan Rollins of Ponaganset Middle School, Glocester for their participation in Mock Trial and National Law Day, the National Current Events League and especially the Wreaths Across America Program.

The 2009 Wilson Civic Education Awards Ceremony is a finalist for the John Notte III Award for Best RI PEG Access Program of the year. The awards ceremony at Hasbro, Inc., in Providence will be held Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

SEE VIDEO June 9, 2009
READ PRESS RELEASE June 9, 2009

1st Annual Susan B. Wilson
Civic Education Merit Award Ceremony
2007-2008

Pam Ancheta, President of League of Women Voters of South Kingstown/Narragansett poses with winners David Avedisian, Henry Marciano and Jim Buxton.

Teachers from N. Kingstown, S. Kingstown & Providence honored at Civic Education Merit Award Reception at the State House
On Monday, June 9, 2008 @ 4:00pm, in the Governor's Reception Room at the Rhode Island State House, David Avedisian, a North Kingstown High School history/current issues teacher; Jim Buxton, a South Kingstown High School social studies teacher; and Henry Marciano, Social Studies Department Head at Esek Hopkins Middle School were recognized for their work in civic education as recipients of the inaugural Susan B. Wilson Civic Education Merit Award for 2007-08. Mr. Avedisian received the Grand Prize, Mr. Buxton received the Jury Prize, and Mr. Marciano received an Honorable Mention Award. The Grand Prize and Jury Prize included a cash award of $800 and $500, respectively.

READ PRESS RELEASE June 6, 2008