Excellence in Education Week - 2005

Purpose

Excellence in Education Week is designed to publicly recognize the outstanding academic achievement of students and excellent performance of educators in Marquette and Alger Counties. During this special week, top businesses from our community join with our local schools to celebrate educational excellence and quality.

Student Scholarships

Each year the top 5% graduating seniors receive $1,500 scholarships to further their education after high school. These students are honored at a formal banquet on Monday night of Excellence in Education Week. Each student's parents and an influential educator that the student has selected as having had the greatest impact on their academic success, attend the banquet.

Professional Development Awards

Twenty-five area educators are honored at the banquet and receive $1,000 professional development awards. The educators utilize the awards to further their education, enhance their classroom activities, or develop unique school projects.

Industry Tours & Local Days of Excellence

During the week, outstanding students from each local school district are hosted by Excellence in Education Business Partners at local Days of Excellence designed to honor students for their academic success. Modelled after an outstanding program in West Marquette County created by Cliffs Michigan Mining Company, Incorporated and the local schools, over 500 eighth through twelfth graders participate in educational tours of local industry. In West Marquette County, students visit the Tilden and Empire Mines and ride the LS&I Railroad to the Lake Superior ore dock. Marquette area school students participate in educational tours at Marquette General Hospital and the Upper Peninsula Medical Center. The Gwinn Community Schools partner with Comau Pico/Wisne and the Gwinn Area Chamber of Commerce to provide learning tours for honored young people in a local celebration with community leaders. In Alger County, students are honored at a luncheonsponsored by Alger County Service Clubs. Each local Day of Excellence concludes with a special luncheon for honored students and community leaders.

History of Education Week

Created in 1994 by a partnership between the business and industry community, the K-12 schools, local citizens, and the Kellogg Youth Initiative Partnerships, the week-long event has raised the banner for high standards in education. EEW honors excellence through several components: scholarships to the highest student achievers at each local high school, professional development awards for educators, and local school-based celebrations of student success.

Business Partners

Excellence in Education Week is supported by unique school/business partnerships. The EEW Banquet this year is sponsored by the following Business Sponsors:

Gold Level Sponsors:

Silver Level Sponsors:

Bronze Level Sponsors:

The following Business Partners help to recognize outstanding middle and high school students and teachers during the week with local industry tours and celebrations:

With our foundation partners, Marquette Community Foundation & Alger Regional Community Foundation, we thank all of these businesses for their efforts in supporting Excellence in Education Week.