2006 3M Economic Education Award winners with ICEE President Joanne Dempsey (center).

Economic Education Awareness Day

Hosted by ICEE and the Union League Club of Chicago, the Economic Education Awareness Day luncheon was held at the Union League Club, 65 West Jackson Blvd, Chicago.  The luncheon featured the recognition of innovation and excellence in teaching through awards and grants; provides sponsors, ICEE Board members, legislators and other business and education leaders the opportunity to meet with ICEE teachers. 

This year ICEE is pleased to announce four winners of the 3M Innovative Economic Educator Mini-Grant Award.  The 3M Mini-Grants of up to $500 are awarded to develop and implement an innovative classroom activity, lesson or unit this school year.  This year’s winning educators include: 

• Bellasanta Ferrer, Patrick Henry Elementary School, City of Chicago District 299, Chicago
• Nina Gregory-King, Woodgate Elementary School, Elementary School District 159, Matteson
• Andrew Hirshman, Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120, Mundelein
• Laura Olson, York Community High School, Elmhurst Community Unit High School District 205

The 3M Economic Education Excellence Award teachers will also be recognized at the luncheon.  Teachers who have a sustained history of commitment and contribution to economic education are honored with this Award.  This year’s recipients are:

• Tammi Conn, Kaneland Senior High School,  Kaneland Community Unit School District 302, Maple Park
• Connie Moran, Ariel Community Academy, City of Chicago District 299, Chicago

ICEE also recognized Linda Yost, past Director of the Center for Economic Education (CEE) at Bradley University in Peoria.  Linda retired May 2006 after serving over eight years actively engaged with Peoria area teachers, schools and districts.

Linda served as director from 1998 to 2006 reaching approximately 700 teachers through workshops and institutes as well as maintaining an active engagement with another 200 teachers through CEE sponsored programs such as The Stock Market Game™, The Annual Regional Economics Poster Contest, the Annual Economics Fair and The Economic Education Workshop for Clergy.

Students involved with the programs during Linda’s leadership number approximately 1,800.  The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) & CEE held after-school 5-week programs for economically disadvantaged third and fourth graders.  It is this program that Linda found has been her most satisfying engagement through the years.

Linda will be missed for her soft-spoken leadership and direction with the CEE programs and events.  We thank her for her dedication to serving the teachers in the Peoria area and wish her an exciting well-deserved retirement!