2018
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award
2018 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
2017
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Marcie Hutchinson, Arizona State University, Mesa Unified School District
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award –
Cheri Stegall, Cocopah Middle School, Scottsdale Unified School District
2017 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Jeannine Kuropatkin (Red Mountain High School, Mesa Unified School District)
Lesson: “Secret Cities of the Manhattan Project”
Award of Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to Understanding & Reading Maps in Geography
Gale Olp Ekiss (Arizona Geographic Alliance)
Lesson: “DOGSTAILS”
Gilbert Lehrman Institute of American History 2017 Arizona History Teacher of the Year – John-David Bowman, Westwood High School, Mesa Public Schools
Arizona Council on Economic Education 2017 Economics Elementary Teacher of the Year – Megan Bird, Fireside Elementary School, Paradise Valley Unified School District
Arizona Council on Economic Education 2017 Economics Secondary Teacher of the Year – Michele Bentivegna, Raymond Kellis High School, Peoria Unified School District
2016
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Cathy Davis, Arizona Geographic Alliance
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies
Dr. Susan E. Gray, Arizona State University
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award
Dawn M. Schmidt, Desert Vista High School, Tempe Union High School District, Phoenix, AZ
2016 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Kim Figueroa (Gilbert Elementary School, Gilbert Unified School District)
Lesson: “Cesar Chavez: American Hero”
Anna Parra (Gilbert Elementary School, Gilbert Unified School District)
Lesson: “Monarch Mystic Migration”
Sharlah Reynolds (Higley High School, Gilbert)
Lesson: “Genetically Modified Foods Project”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Luqa M. Hoffiz, Arizona State University, Tempe
2016
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Cathy Davis, Arizona Geographic Alliance
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies
Dr. Susan E. Gray, Arizona State University
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award
Dawn M. Schmidt, Desert Vista High School, Tempe Union High School District, Phoenix, AZ
2016 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Kim Figueroa (Gilbert Elementary School, Gilbert Unified School District)
Lesson: “Cesar Chavez: American Hero”
Anna Parra (Gilbert Elementary School, Gilbert Unified School District)
Lesson: “Monarch Mystic Migration”
Sharlah Reynolds (Higley High School, Gilbert)
Lesson: “Genetically Modified Foods Project”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Luqa M. Hoffiz, Arizona State University, Tempe
2015
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Barbara Hatch, Veterans Heritage Project, Cactus Shadows High School
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies
Dr. Linda Sargent Wood, Northern Arizona University
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award
Ronald Bahre, Kingman Middle School, Kingman School District, Kingman, AZ
2015 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Lisa Adeli (Cholla High Magnet School, Tucson Unified School District)
Lesson: “World War I in the Middle East: Museum Research Project”
Larry Dexter (Westwood High School, Mesa Unified School District)
Lesson: “The Great War, American Neutrality, and Western Union”
Andrea Barker (Whitman Elementary School, Mesa Unified School District)
Lesson: “Hohokam Communities: Taking Risks and Making Trade-Offs”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Clay Whitley Wiers, University of Arizona, Tucson
2014
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Dr. Robert J. Stahl, Past-President of the National Council for the Social Studies and the Arizona Council for the Social Studies, Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies –
Ofelia C. Cañez The Raúl H. Castro Institute at Phoenix College
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award –
Patricia T. Hutchinson Cottonwood Middle School, Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District, Cottonwood, AZ
2014 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Award
Will Reimers (Trevor G. Browne High School, Phoenix Union High School District) Lesson: “Black Death”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – JoLynne Voorhees, College of Education at Arizona State University in Tempe
2013
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Sydele Golston, Past-President of the National Council for the Social Studies
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – John Halverson
(Desert Sands Middle School, Cartwright School District, Phoenix)
2013 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Award
Jeannine Kuropatkin (Rhodes Junior High School World Studies Academy, Mesa)
Lesson: “GeoSummit – Hungry Planet: A Gastronomical Tour of the World”
Allison McIntosh (Rhodes Junior High School World Studies Academy, Mesa)
Lesson: “GeoSummit – Hungry Planet: A Gastronomical Tour of the World”
Keith White (Raymond S. Kellis High School, Phoenix)
Lesson: “Location, Location, Location: Arizona and the Gadsden Purchase”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Samantha Strunk-Hintz, College of Education at Northern Arizona University
2012
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Carol Carney Warren
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies – Dr. Katherine G. Morrissey
(University of Arizona)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Debra Peters
(Deer Valley Unified School District)
2012 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Award
Rachael Henry (Buena High School, Sierra Vista Public Schools)
Lesson: “I’ll See Your Darius and Raise You a Shi Huangdi”
Eric Proctor (Wildlife Education Coordinator, Arizona Game & Fish Department)
Lesson: “Mapping Migration Through Movement”
Jennifer Valentine (Liberty Gifted and Talented Elementary Schooll, Tucson)
Lesson: “Water in the Desert”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Aubrey N. Porter, College of Education at Northern Arizona University
2011
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Masaji Inoshita
2011 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Award
Susan Dickens (Tempe Elementary School District)
Lesson: “Chinese Cultural Lesson”
Rhonda Gonzalez (Cottonwood Middle School, Oak Creek School District, Cottonwood)
Lesson: “Roots and Wings – A Lesson About Immigration”
Cheryl Stegall (Cocopah Middle School, Scottsdale Unified School District)
Lesson: “A Fate Worse Than Death – Civil War Prisoner of War Camps”
Suzanne Vogt (Trevor Browne High School, Phoenix Union High School District)
Lesson: “Forecast Cloudy with a Slight Chance of Showers: The Delay of the D-Day Invasion 1944”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Mia McShane
(College of Education at Northern Arizona University)
2010
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Dr. Alexander White, M.D.
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award Diane Godfrey (Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School, Kyrene School District)
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies –
Dr. Mary Melcher
(Arizona Women’s Heritage Trail, Arizona Historical Society)
2010 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Award
Carole Ambroziak (Doolen Middle School, Tucson Unified School District, Tucson)
Lesson: “Understanding ‘The Stans’”
Michelle Fahy (Centennial Middle School, Kyrene School District, Tempe)
Lesson: “World History Event Digital Storytelling Project”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Stephanie R. Hall
(College of Education at the University of Arizona, Tucson)
2009
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Barbara Soto (Tucson Unified School District)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Anna-Marie Davis (Orangewood Elementary School, Washington Elementary School District #6)
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies – Dr. Karen Leong, (Asian-Pacific American Studies Program at Arizona State University, Tempe)
2009 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Danna Lagerquist (Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School, Kyrene School District)
Lesson: “Ancient Civilizations Theme Park”
Sharlyn Scott (Desert Vista High School, Tempe Union High School District)
Lesson: “China Today: Red, Yellow, and Blue ”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Marisa Tualla (College of Education at the University of Arizona, Tucson)
2008
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Gwen Russell Harvey ( Arizona Historical Society, Tucson)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Barbara Williams
(Buena High School, Sierra Vista Public Schools)
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies –
Dr. Georganne Scheiner-Gillis
(Department of Women’s Studies at Arizona State University)
2008 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Jane Anderson and Diane Hyllested (Kyrene School District)
Lesson: “Ellis Island”
Beverly Giacobbe (Madison Meadows Middle School)
Lesson: “Cuban Missile Crisis”
Mary Melendez (North High School)
Lesson: “The Holocaust”
Robert J. Stahl Student Teacher Scholarship Award – Deborah Painter-Plimley
(Arizona State University at the West Campus)
2007
Wilbur Murra for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Honorable Harry Mitchell (U.S. Representative District 5, Arizona)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Barbara Hatch
(Cactus Shadows High School)
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies – Donna Schell (Scottsdale Unified School District)
2007 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Donald H. Preston (South Mountain High School, Phoenix Union High School District)
Lesson: “The Columbian Exchange”
Heather Kiser (Mountain Pointe High School, Tempe Unified High School District)
Lesson: “In Search of Aphrodite’s Rock: Storytelling from a Geographic Perspective”
2006
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Gale Olp Ekiss (Arizona Geographic Alliance)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Dr. Nancy Haas
(Arizona State University at the West Campus)
2006 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Dr. Lynn Galvin (Phoenix Preparatory Academy)
Lesson: “Faces of the Enemy – Investigating Japanese Internment as a Constitutional Violation.
This is a lesson for middles school students. The lesson helps students understand how fear and racism during WW II created a situation where basic Constitutional rights were ignored. Students will better understand the policy of Japanese-American internment and how it affected individual citizens.
Diane Godfrey (Kyrene Del Pueblo Middle School)
Lesson: “GeoScrapbooking: Photographing the 5 Themes of Geography”
This lesson can be used with grades 6 and 7. This lesson uses photography to help teach the Five Themes of Geography while students are on a field assignment. Diane uses this lesson when she takes her students to Red Rock State Park in Sedona. The students record the five themes with their cameras and turn the results into a scrapbook.
Barbara Hatch (Cactus Shadows High School)
Lesson: “Arizona Heritage Project or Since you asked: Arizona Veterans Share their Memories”
This is a lesson for high school students. The students interview Veterans who share their first-hand accounts of American History. The interviews are documented for the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.
Anna-Marie Keenan (Madison #1 Middle School) and Melissa Carrington
(Liberty Elementary School)
Lesson: “Africa”
This lesson for middle school students incorporates food, songs, history, art and folk tales of various countries in Africa. Guests from the Los Boys of Sudan and the Glendale Bean Museum enrich this unit which connects the new learning of Africa to the Five Themes of Geography.Kate Mahady (Booth –Fickett Magnet School)
Lesson: “Questions of Culture and Human Connections”
This is a great tool for encouraging journaling in the middle school classroom. This lesson includes photographs from around the world. Each photograph has a prompt related to math, language, science and social studies. The students are encouraged to connect these photos to something in their lives.
Dawn Schmidt (Desert Vista High School)
Lesson: Indian Ocean Network Unit
This week long high school lesson covers all aspects of the Indian Ocean. The students explore trade and geography and they compare old and new trade networks.
Carol Warren (Social Studies Specialist, Arizona Department of Education)
Lesson: “Desert Views-First Impressions: Travelers on the Gila Trail”
Fourth and fifth grade students are introduced to primary source material by reading descriptions written by overland traveler on the Gila Trail. They will come to understand the ways in which travelers viewed aspects of the desert environment
2005
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Michael Ostapuk (Arizona Education Association)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Kathy Williams
(Dobson High, Mesa Unified School District)
2005 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
John Halverson (Desert Sands Middle School)
Sheila Nice (Kyrene Elementary School District)
2004
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Dr. Tom McGowan (University of Nebraska at Lincoln, formerly at Arizona State University, Tempe)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Abby Dupke
(Dobson High, Mesa Unified School District)
2004 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
2003
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
John S. Morton (National Council on Economic Education)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Jeannine Kuropatkin
(Rhodes Junior High, Mesa Unified School District)
2003 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Carol Warren (Sacaton Elementary)
Cheryl Wiens (Madison #1 in Madison Elementary District #38)
Lesson: Marvelous Moroccan Mosaics: Patterns in Zillij
A GeoMath lesson that aligns with Grades 6 and 7 in which students learn about the centuries-old beauty and craft of Moroccan tile and use zillij patterns and shapes to perform elementary tessellations (geometric shapes). Since ancient times, Morocco’s mystiques of landscape and culture have been enticing visitors. Among Morocco’s unique cultural customs and art forms is the tile work called zillij (pronounced zah-LEEGE). Zillij mosaics decorate buildings, walls, floors, and much more throughout Morocco. Its repeating patterns and richness of colors create an intriguing image of this northwest African country.
2002
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award
2002 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
2001
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Dr. Paul Robinson (University of Arizona)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Eric LaDue
(Coronado del Sol HS, Tempe)
2001 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Maryann Watkins (Alhambra HS, Phoenix Union HSD)
Patty Sepp (Young Scholars Home School)
Karen Williams (Brimhall JHS, Mesa)
2000
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Dr. L. C. “Chris” Smith (Department of History at Arizona State University)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Dennis Rees
(Peoria Unified School District)
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies – Dr. Janice Monk (University of Arizona)
2000 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Charles Ott (Green Fields Country Day School, Tuscon)
Jeannine Kuropatkin (Rhodes JHS, Mesa)
Michael Steiner (Rhodes JHS, Mesa)
1999
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Dr. Bob Mings and Dr. Malcolm Comeaux
(Department of Geography at Arizona State University, Tempe)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Michael Ostapuk
(Estrella Middle School)
Susanne Shafer Award for Contributions to Women’s Studies –
Dr. Mary Logan Rothschild (Arizona State University, Tempe)
1999 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
David Thatcher (Canyon Del Oro)
Rebecca Green (Altadena MS, Kyrene)
Carol Cribb-Bell and Patricia Flores (Carillo Magnet School)
Marty Sheppard (Sierra Vista MS)
Teruni de Silva (Madison Heights ES)
Min ii Norton (Solano)
Barbara Soto (Humphrey ES)
1997
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Ken Reid (Mountain Pointe High School, Tempe)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Bob Perry
(Chaparral, Scottsdale)
1997 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Gretchen Bathgate (Rose Lane Elementary School)
Rob Christopher (Desert Mountain High School, Scottsdale)
Gale Olp Ekiss (Powell JHS, Mesa Unified School District)
Ann Johnston (Humphrey E. S.)
Ken Reid (Mountain Pointe High School)
Peggy Ryan, Jimmi Lou Stack, Penny Bums, and Lisa Salinas (Mountain Pointe High School)
Heather Eppley (Clarendon Elementary School, Osborn District)
1995
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award
1995 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Tim Brown, Lela Borrmann, Michele Dunham, and Donna Johnson (Chandler)
Diane Freeman and Diane Ball (Pendergast)
Robert W. Koehler (Tucson Unified School District)
1992
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Dr. Susanne Shafer (Arizona State University)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Janine Stanford
1992 NCSS Program of Excellence – Knox Elementary School
1991
Wilbur Murra Award for Lifetime Achievement in Social Studies Education –
Dr. Bill Phillips (Arizona State University)
Isidore Starr Distinguished Social Studies Teacher Award – Dr. Susan Scott Wilson (Knox Elementary School, Chandler)
1991 Great Moments in Social Studies Teaching Awards
Lori Stoll (Peralta Elementary School, Phoenix)
Patricia Wilson (Cartwright Elementary School, Phoenix)
Mary Guenther (Jacobson Elementary, Chandler)
Ricardo Alvarez (Landmark Middle School, Glendale)
Paul Wieser and Colleagues (Desert Horizon School, Phoenix)
Maureen O’Reilly and Margaret Wilkinson (Rhodes Jr. High, Mesa)
R.G. Jones (McClintock High School, Tempe)
Dr. John H. Hosmer (University High School, Tucson)