Washington, D.C.—April 2, 2007—The American Architectural Foundation (AAF), in partnership with KnowledgeWorks Foundation, seeks submissions for the Richard Riley Award. This award recognizes design and educational excellence in "schools as centers of community," and the winning school will receive a $10,000 prize.
Sometimes referred to as "community learning centers," schools that serve as centers of community provide a rich array of social, civic, recreational and artistic opportunities to the broader community and to students, often clustering educational and municipal buildings together. These additional services and opportunities often improve student achievement and help maximize local tax dollars.
The winning school will also be invited to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony in the fall where AAF and KnowledgeWorks Foundation will confer the Richard Riley award. The award’s namesake, former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, will be in attendance and will present the award to the winning school himself. Riley has long been a national leader in promoting school facilities designed for the 21st Century.
"The Richard Riley Award applauds exemplary schools that better serve future learners by strengthening community ties through innovative partnerships and creative design," said Ronald E. Bogle, president and CEO of the American Architectural Foundation.
"If we want our children to learn 21st Century skills," said Secretary Riley, a current KnowledgeWorks Foundation board member, "they need to learn those skills in up-to-date and modern facilities that also serve the entire community. It makes no sense in this era of lifelong learning not to have our schools open later and longer, and for people of all ages."
Designing schools as centers of community was one of the eight major recommendations of the 2005 National Summit on School Design presented by AAF and KnowledgeWorks Foundation. To download the report from the National Summit on School Design, go to www.archfoundation.org/aaf/gsbd/Events.Summit.htm.
"Schools that are designed as centers of community are the equivalent of 21st village greens," said Chad Wick, president and CEO of KnowledgeWorks Foundation. "These community learning centers bring together a rich array of community services that help improve teaching and learning and, at the same time, they allow for more efficient use of public facilities."
All public schools, new and old, including charter schools are eligible to submit entries for the award. Individuals are not eligible to receive the award. Entries will be accepted April 2, 2007 – July 9, 2007. For detailed information about the award criteria and how to enter the competition, please visit: www.richardrileyaward.org.
Schools can also learn more about creating schools as centers of community by watching an award-winning video about John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School in Saint Paul, Minn., produced by AAF and KnowledgeWorks. John A. Johnson was the first school to win the Riley Award. To watch the video, go to www.archfoundation.org/aaf/gsbd/Video.Johnson.Intro.htm
The Richard Riley Award was launched in 2004 by KnowledgeWorks Foundation as Schools as Centers of Community: A National Search for Excellence. The recipient of the Richard Riley Award for Excellence in 2004 was John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School, in Saint Paul, Minn. In 2005, the award was presented to Hudson High School, in Hudson, Mass. AAF, in partnership with KnowledgeWorks Foundation, is pleased to continue presenting the Richard Riley Award.
About The American Architectural Foundation
The American Architectural Foundation (AAF) is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that educates individuals and communities about the power of architecture to transform lives and improve the places where we live, learn, work, and play. AAF’s programs include: The Mayors’ Institute on City Design and Great Schools by Design – highly regarded initiatives that help improve the built environment through the collaboration of thought leaders, designers, and local communities. Through its outreach programs, grants, exhibitions, and educational resources, the American Architectural Foundation helps people become thoughtful and engaged stewards of the world around them. For more information, please visit www.archfoundation.org.
About Knowledgeworks Foundation
KnowledgeWorks Foundation is Ohio's largest public education philanthropy. KnowledgeWorks Foundation provides funding and leadership for education initiatives throughout the state and is focused on creating and improving educational opportunities. The Foundation is committed to sharing knowledge gained and lessons learned with others in Ohio and across the nation to help inform public policy. Learn more about KnowledgeWorks Foundation at www.kwfdn.org.
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Helen Wechsler
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hwechsler@archfoundation.org
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