News Release: VVMF Offers Scholarships to New Teachers Network Members

13 March 2007

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is offering $250 anniversary year scholarships to all new members of its Teach Vietnam Teachers Network to be used in attending the annual conference, said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Memorial Fund.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also known as “The Wall,” is marking its 25th anniversary this year. To commemorate the occasion, the Memorial Fund is offering $250 scholarships to all new Teachers Network members to help defray travel expenses to the national conference, being held on July 18-22 at American University in Washington, D.C.

“Education is the key to our mission at the Memorial Fund,” said Scruggs. “Helping teachers meet and compare lesson plans about the Vietnam War is just one of many things we do to make sure that a crucial time is being taught to a generation that might otherwise know nothing about that period in our nation’s history.”

The Teach Vietnam Teachers Network was formed in 2002 to provide educators with information, guidance and resources about effective teaching of the Vietnam War. This nationwide network is made up of elementary, secondary, high school and college educators who are dedicated to teaching students about the Vietnam War era and building awareness about the Memorial Fund’s educational initiatives. Members of the Network represent the Memorial Fund in their school districts and communities, helping to educate other teachers and neighbors about the war’s legacy and how it continues to impact our nation today. In exchange, members are provided with numerous benefits, including free educational materials and professional development opportunities to assist them in serving as the Memorial Fund’s education “ambassadors.”

The highlight of the Teachers Network experience is attending the national conference, being held this year at American University on July 18-22. During the course of the meeting, educators will hear experts, such as historians and writers, share their insight about the war and the era. They will also hear from fellow educators who will share ideas about innovative approaches for teaching about the Vietnam era. Past attendees have noted that the best part of the national conference is these opportunities to network with other teachers, sharing ideas about how information can be effectively and creatively imparted to students. The conference also includes trips to The Wall, culminating in a remembrance ceremony.

All expenses are paid once attendees arrive in Washington, D.C. for the conference. This year’s special anniversary scholarship will help attendees defray their travel expenses to get to the nation’s capital.

Interested educators must apply for and be accepted to the Teachers Network before they can attend the national conference. The deadline to apply for this year’s anniversary class of the Teach Vietnam Teachers Network is March 30. For more information, click here

Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Today, through a series of outreach programs, it is dedicated to preserving the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing, educating about the impact of the Vietnam War and is building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, an underground educational facility, near The Wall.

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