Senator Inhofe announces Oklahoma's Picturing America Award Recipients
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe has announced “Picturing America” awards given by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to 424 schools and libraries within Oklahoma including several from Broken Arrow Public Schools.
Picturing America is a free initiative that helps teach American history and culture by bringing some of the country’s great art directly to classrooms and libraries. In September, these schools and libraries will receive forty large, high-quality reproductions of great American art and a comprehensive teachers resource book to assist educators using the works of art in core subjects.
BAPS schools selected include the following: Arrow Springs Elementary, Broken Arrow Academy, Broken Arrow High School, Centennial Middle School, Country Lane Elementary, Childers Middle School, Haskell Middle School, Indian Springs Elementary, Leisure Park Elementary, Liberty Elementary North Intermediate High School, South Intermediate High School, Oak Crest Elementary, Oliver Middle School, Rhoades Elementary, Sequoyah Middle School, and Westwood Elementary.
“As students across Oklahoma return to school this fall, a new learning opportunity awaits many of them,” said Senator Inhofe. “Picturing America is a unique program that provides students with a gateway to the humanities. By bringing great art into public and private schools, libraries and communities, this program will offer Oklahomans of all ages the opportunity to learn about our nation’s history in a fresh and engaging way. I want to encourage other Oklahoma schools and libraries to submit their applications by October 31st so that they can be considered for next year’s Picturing America Awards.”
Feedback from local educators currently participating in the nationwide Picturing America pilot program has been tremendous. The 424 Oklahoma institutions awarded the Picturing America program join over 26,000 schools and public libraries across the country that will participate in the program.
“The Endowment believes that Picturing America should be in every school and public library in the United States. As a result of our first round of applications, thousands of schools and millions of people all around the country will have the chance to view and learn from this collection in their own communities,” said Bruce Cole, Chairman of the NEH. “Picturing America helps us understand our democracy by bringing us face to face with the people, places, and events that have shaped our country. It provides an innovative way to experience America’s history through our nation’s art.”
The NEH will offer Picturing America to more schools and libraries through a future enrollment opportunity beginning in August 2008. All eligible schools and public libraries in the U.S. and its territories that have not previously received Picturing America may apply for the program from August 4 through October 31, 2008 at PicturingAmerica.neh.gov.