The Graduate School of Education has revealed the three leaders who have won the Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education.
The McGraw Prize, which was announced on Sept. 27, honors exceptional individuals in education who are driving positive change in students' lives. Winners of the prize must receive a public nomination, undergo three rounds of judging, and pass a final stage conducted by leaders in the education field.
Penn GSE recognized Debra Duardo for the Pre-K-12 Education Prize. Her work and leadership within the Los Angeles County Office of Education created an organizational framework modeled nationally. She has served over 1.4 million students and helped create tangible differences in attendance, graduation rates, and department collaborations within the Los Angeles education system, the Los Angeles County Office of Education reported.
For the Higher Education Prize, Penn GSE recognized David Wilson. As the president of Morgan State University, Wilson has overseen models and initiatives that successfully increased graduation rates. His dedication to community engagement has been transformative, particularly in helping adult learners within the Baltimore community and advocating for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He has become the first person from an HBCU to win the award, according to The Daily Record.
Penn GSE awarded Barbara Oakley its first Lifelong Learning Prize. Her work in neuroscience has helped over 5 million students build an understanding of their learning in fields like math and engineering. Her online courses include "Mindshift", "Uncommon Sense Teaching", and "Learning How to Learn". Oakley is a professor at the School of Engineering and Computer Science’s Industrial and Systems Engineering at Oakland University.
During the official ceremony on Nov. 8, $50,000 will be awarded to the winners, along with a sculpture to recognize their achievements.
Penn GSE has housed the prize since 2020. It is also responsible for maintaining an ongoing program that involves over 100 past winners.
Penn graduates have been recognized recently. In 2021, two Penn alumni were recognized, and in 2022, one was.
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