A social studies teacher and baseball coach at Westfield Middle School, Zimmer was one of 15 winners selected in the Hilton HHonors Teacher Treks Travel Grant competition.

Thousands of U.S. and Puerto Rican teachers submitted essays for the competition, describing destinations they’d like to experience first-hand in order to enrich their curriculum and inspire students to explore the world. The public voted online during April to select the winning essays from 30 finalists’ submissions.

In his essay, Zimmer outlined his ideal trip to study and connect the history, geography, and culture of Egypt’s Nile River valley to his social studies curriculum:

“While in Cairo, I will visit mosques that connect to my world religions unit, such as the Mohamed Ali Mosque and the Mosque of Al-Azhar. Nearby, I will explore the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and the old ancient capital of Memphis. North in Alexandria, I will spend time visiting the Mediterranean coast and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, home to historic books and manuscripts.”

Visits to the Valley of the Kings and the tomb of King Tut at Luxor, and the Nubian Museum and Aswan Dam at Aswan, were also on Zimmer’s dream itinerary:

“Each winter, I teach a two-month unit on Ancient Egypt and nearby Nubia. The trip will allow me to explore the architecture and burial grounds of the civilizations and leaders that we study during the unit. Through pictures, videos, and notes, I will be able to bring history to life in my lessons when I return.

“Relating to the geography in my curriculum, I will explore a desert region that is non-existent in Indiana [and] the importance of rivers, like the Nile, to ancient civilization and the modern significance of dams, such as the Aswan Dam. My geography unit materials will improve significantly, and the science department of my school will be able to connect to my findings as well.”

 Winning teachers’ schools receive a $2,500 grant for cultural activities or enhancements.

 Zimmer plans to take his two-week trip to Egypt in early July and hopes to bring along his wife, Janell Callahan Zimmer ’09, a Butler College of Business graduate.

Hilton HHonors is the loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide’s 10 hotel brands. It developed Teacher Treks in partnership with the Institute of International Education, a world leader in the international exchange and administrator of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

Media contact: Mary Ellen Stephenson
(317) 940-6944
mestephe@butler.edu

As vice president, Richey directs the University’s fundraising, alumni and parent programs, capital campaigns, annual giving, and corporate and foundation relations. She is a former member of the University Board of Trustees and past president of the Butler Alumni Association board.

“Butler University offers academic challenge and personal guidance to its students,” Richey said. “Butler prepared me and other members of my family to succeed in our professions and in contributing to society. I look forward to telling the Butler story as vice president for university advancement.”

Butler President James M. Danko said Richey brings a wealth of experience, talent, and Bulldog loyalty to her new role.

“During her interim service, Shari has built momentum for our critically important development efforts,” he said. “Given her extensive University networks and institutional knowledge, and the strong support Shari enjoys among the trustees, administration, and advancement staff, she was clearly the top choice for this key leadership role.”

Richey graduated cum laude from Butler University with a degree in accounting. She earned her license as a certified public accountant, and ultimately served 10 years as a tax consulting partner at Ernst & Young, Indianapolis. After a successful 21-year career, she left the firm in 2009.

She has also been a longtime civic and community leader, having served multiple years on the boards of The Indiana Repertory Theatre, United Way of Central Indiana, and Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. She is currently a member of the Zionsville (Ind.) Community School Board of Trustees, and is a member of the Zionsville United Methodist Church.

Media contact: Mary Ellen Stephenson
(317) 940-6944
mestephe@butler.edu

Nominated by fellow alumni, those honored included Mike Whitman M.S. ’94; Linda Boone ’70 M.S. ’75; Laura Ganus Tuthill, Ph.D., B.S. ’04; Colleen Moran, Ph.D., EPPSP ’98; and Marilee Updike, M.S. ’73.

COE Distinguished Alumni Award winner Mike Whitman, left, with Dean of Education Ena Shelley.

Mike Whitman is human resources director for Avon (Ind.) Community School Corp. He recruits educators who share his values and mentors seasoned educators to continue tomake child-centered decisions.

As a building level administrator for two of the district’s elementary schools, he created building-wide climates that emphasized the social, emotional, and academic needs of students.

Whitman earned a master’s degree in educational administration in Butler University’s traditional program. He also taught in Butler’s Elementary Education program for several years. COE graduates and faculty remember Whitman as an engaging professor and colleague.

His nomination stated that Whitman, a long-time administrator in several districts, “faced many pressures, but he never pressured his teachers. Instead, he worked to nurture them so that they could nurture their students.”

Linda Boone retired in 2010 after teaching second and third graders for 18 years in the Fairfax County Public Schools, Centreville, Va. She often mentored fellow teachers during her career and was honored as Wal-Mart Fairfax County Teacher of the Year 2001-2002. She previously taught in Warren Township, Indianapolis (1970-1976) and has served on the College of Education’s Board of Visitors (2007-2012).

She met her future husband Canfield “Buddy” Boone ’71 at Butler; both majored in education. He was serving as a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, when he was killed during the terrorist attack on the building. Linda and her family established a memorial scholarship in his honor to benefit a Butler education student.

Laura Ganus Tuthill is a senior instructor with the College of Education at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. She coordinates the Gifted & Talented Education program, and serves on the university grant leadership team and as a classroom coach for teachers. Under a Colorado Department of Education grant, Tuthill helps 55 southern Colorado teachers improve literacy among English language learners in preschool through Grade 3.

Previously, Tuthill was chair and an assistant professor of teacher education at Western State Colorado University and an instructor/lecturer for Adams State University, Colorado Mountain College, and Metropolitan State University of Denver. Tuthill received the 2008 President’s Volunteer Service Award from the U.S. President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Colleen Moran has been superintendent of North Montgomery School Corp., based in Crawfordsville, Ind., since May 2010. She previously served as the district’s director of curriculum (2001-2004) and assistant superintendent (2004-2010).

She led creation of a biomedical program elective for high school students considering health and science careers, and worked tirelessly to implement Project Tandem, in which district teachers implemented RISE standards (Indiana’s teacher evaluation/development system) a year earlier than required. Consequently, NMCS received $428,000 in Excellence in Performance grants used for teacher compensation.

A respected adjunct instructor in Butler’s Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals (EPPSP), Moran has placed several Butler student teachers in her district and supported NMSC staff and principals in EPPSP. She previously served in the Indiana Department of Education and Western Boone Schools.

Marilee Updike has been an Indianapolis Public Schools teacher and program director for nearly 40 years, and is an impassioned advocate for equitable education access and outcomes for English language learners (ELL). She has supervised and supported many English as Second Language (ESL) teachers.

Updike coauthored the Indiana English Language Proficiency Standards and has testified before the Indiana House and Senate on ELL-related bills, helping legislators understand the impact of their decisions on undocumented students. U.S. senators Julia Carson and Andre Carson, Department of Education staffers, and district ESL directors have sought her policy advice.

She has served on the boards of such organizations as the Hispanic Education Center, Indianapolis Mayor’s Commission on Latino Affairs Indiana ELL Advisory Council, Indiana Minority Health Coalition, and the Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs.

Media contact: Mary Ellen Stephenson
(317) 940-6944
mestephe@butler.edu