Nominated by Lynda Richter
Teacher Elementary/Primary (ages 5-12) at Palo Community School
Palo, Michigan, United States

Judy Huynh is a sixth grade teacher with a passion for teaching her students about the global community. She uses her background and the opportunities she has taken advantage of, as well as technology, to help her students reach beyond the classroom walls. She teaches her students about various cultures, religions and global issues, such as hunger and refugees.

Judy is a teacher at Palo Community School, which runs a pre-school through 8th grade. This is a very rural, predominently white community in Michigan where poverty and unemployment is high and students seldom travel outside their own community. Yet through her projects she shares her passion with her students so they gain an appreciation of our world's diversity and an understanding and empathy for the plight of others.

Her students correspond with refugees at the Mohomou Refugee School in Guinea,Africa. They plan and implement service learning activities which in turn has supplied soccer balls, school supplies and books to this African School. Each year they coordinate an International Dinner where they share their knowledge of, as well as food from, many different countries with the commmunity. Then they donate the profits to Heifer International. She also participates in on-line projects.In one project her students post their poetry and respond to other students' poetry from around the world.

In the past few years Judy has presented her academic projects and lessons, her work with i-earn, and her service learning projects at local, state, and national Social Studies and Service Learning Conferences. She also continues to seek ways to use on-line technology to support her curriculum and share her global connections.

The section below lists the testimonials that have been reviewed and approved by the candidate.

1. Testimonial from Cassandra Cassandra (1)
Other at Carson City-Crystal High School
United States

Mrs. Huynh was my 6th grade teacher and my 5th grade math teacher part of the time. I will never forget that year in her classroom. She did so many great things and taught us so much about countries around the world. I sit in class now while the teacher will be talking about Africa thinking that they are explaining the same thing that Mrs. Huynh taught us, except she taught with more hands on projects. One that I remember was putting poems online. That was fun! You got to read kid's poems from around the world and see what they were going through. You were able to talk to them and talk about yours or their poems. Also we learned how to write poems which I think every kid should know how to do. Another, and one of my favorites, was the pen pals. My pen pal was Joseph. We wrote many letters to each other, I haven’t received one for a few much, but we do keep in contact, and it has now been 4 years. I learned about refugees from him, how he didn't live with all his family and didn't know where all his sisters were. He left his country because a war that was going on and it split his family apart. He loved to learn about things and loved school. We sent them soccer balls and such to help them out. He sent me a bag that he had had and pictures. When we talk about Africa in school now, I can say that I have a friend there and can explain some of the things he's went through. Another project Mrs. Huynh did was the Heifer International project. We raised money in our school and bought animals, not just heifers, to send to people in Africa. We studied how these animals would help families and be able to send their kids to school with the money they got from milk. Also when their animal had babies they would then give the babies to another family they knew so it would help them out. It was an ongoing cycle! I have also been involved with the S.L.Y.C. commitee thanks to Mrs. Huynh. It stands for Service Learning Youth Committee. I've learned so much from that and met many people. My friend and I would go away to conferences with Mrs. Huynh and another teacher, Mrs. Richter. We learned how service learning was a more fun way to learn things and how kids usually learned more from it. That's what all the projects we did with Mrs. Huynh were. We were able to help people and at the same time learn about them and also have fun. I don't think there was one person who didn't like the projects we did. The things she did for us I will never forget, and being able to help people the way we did is something I will always try to do and will try to pass to other people. She’s taught me so much more than you could if you were just reading out of a text book. She’s still one of my favorite teachers. Thank you Mrs. Huynh!!!

Cassandra C. White

2. Testimonial from Jeanine Yard (2)
Educational Consultant at Michigan Community Service Commission
United States

How does a rural school district develop service-learning partnerships when there is only one business and no traffic lights in the whole town? Teacher Judy Huynh can show you how. Judy teaches at Palo Community schools. Palo is a small isolated dot on the Michigan “mitten.” This mighty little district engages all of its 165 students annually, as well its 13 teaching staff, custodian, bus driver, and cafeteria staff (100% of its staff) in service-learning, due to the training and coordination Judy provides. In 2004 alone, students engaged in service-learning for more than 7,000 hours. Based on Independent Sector’s value of volunteer service at $17.55 an hour, these students gave $122,850 worth of service.

Judy has reached beyond the confines of their school and the combined general store and post office to build more than 45 partnerships. Partnering with AmeriCorps has helped leverage people power to coordinate projects. Partners such as the Lansing Islamic Center help develop local projects. Others, such as Heifer International, UNICEF, SERRV, and Kids Can Make a Difference, are global in scope. Judy Huynh doubles as sixth grade teacher and service-learning coordinator. Her coordinator position has placed her in a pivotal role in the school district where she promotes on-line collaborative learning. Her passion has helped forge many partnerships including one with the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN). iEARN is the largest nonprofit global network that enables youth to use the Internet and other new technologies to engage in collaborative educational projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world. Judy has consistently utilized on-line shared learning as a teaching tool in her classroom. She is in constant on-line contact with teachers across the globe. What are students accomplishing? The sixth grade pencil company (Schoolhouse Pencils) sent two gross of pencils to a school in South Africa and one gross to a school in Zambia through the Peace Corps. Third graders started the Palo Relief Fund by holding a quilt raffle. Preschoolers sold lollipops and purchased audio book tapes for the library to “lick illiteracy”. Five classrooms made books to send to Kids to Kids International, and school kits were sent to Haiti. These projects were student centered and many were implemented with multiple classrooms. Again they were all accomplished through Judy’s teaching and leadership.

Palo’s school wide hunger project expanded into a partnership with the Mohomu refugee school in Guinea. Through the efforts of the 6th grade class, hunger presentations were made in all classrooms as well as other school districts. They coordinated an international dinner that has become an annual event. At the dinner, students set up educational exhibits on hunger, peace, and refugees. Attendance at the dinner doubled from 150 attendees in 2003 to 300 in 2004 and funds raised went from $1,000 to $1,500 for Heifer International. Students and teachers from Palo and Guinea communicate across a vast distance through email. Students and teachers from Guinea use computers donated by Palo students. All exchange writing, pictures and video documentaries.

Judy has also reached beyond her school district to promote on-line shared learning through local state, national and, international presentations. She is regarded in Michigan as an expert in global service-learning and online collaborative learning. She is currently a Michigan Service-Learning Teacher Fellow and brings this knowledge with her to mentor her colleagues from across Michigan.Judy inspires not only her teacher colleagues at Palo, but teachers all over the world through here on-line mentorship.

Through my role as a grant maker and technical assistance provider at the Michigan Community Service Commission, I work with teachers across the state. I have had the pleasure of observing Judy’s work for the past five years. Judy is an energetic force in the lives of youth and teachers alike. Judy’s influence has enriched the lives of students. As a result of her teaching strategies student engagement and academic performance has improved, teachers have new strategies for their “toolkit”, and global partners have much needed resources.

Yet Judy summed it up best in a recent document. “We know we can continue to improve our program at Palo. Our whole staff believes in the efficacy of service-learning and on-line collaborative learning and we are working to make our program a model for other schools.”

3. Testimonial from Kimberly Young (3)
Curriculum Instruction Director at Ionia Intermediate School District
United States

I have known Judy Huhyn for almost two years in my capacity as General Education Director for Ionia County Intermediate School District. I have admired and respected Judy’s dedication to not only general education but to global education. To truly understand the passion she has for international study is to better understand the area where she teaches.

Palo School, with a total student population of 160 students, is a K-8 school district located in Ionia County. The school is the center of this small rural community. It is located approximately an hour from the cities of Lansing and Grand Rapids. At first glance the community looks very insular, but closer examination reveals a school that has been exposed and interacts with a global community under the leadership of Judy Huhyn.

Online experiences have played a key role in exposing Palo students to the world. Judy’s iEARN online writing class in 2003 played an important role in her professional growth. She used this experience as a “stepping stone” for several project based experiences with her students and has been eager to share her learning experiences with her peers.

In 2003, Judy started a refugee project with the Mohomou Refugee School in Guinea. The exchange was more than the typical exchange of pen pals. The Palo students sent soccer balls, school supplies and books. Most unique, they sent a video camera with a tape on “A Day in the Life of a Palo Student”. What Palo students received in return was a video titled, “A Day in the Life of a Mohomou Student”. The strong bond between the students and teachers has inspired Palo students, under Judy’s guidance, to raise money to set up a computer lab at the Mohomou School. $1000.00 was raised at Palo’s International Dinner (a state award winning project). In addition, another $1000 was donated by Judy’s church for additional computers. The lab has been purchased and currently in use by the children of the Mohomou School.

Judy Huynh frequently shares her skills and experiences with colleagues. In 2004 she presented iEARN at the National Council for the Social Studies Conference, the Michigan State Service Learning Conference, and the Ionia County Service Learning Academy. In 2005, Judy presented at the Michigan Council for the Social Studies and the Michigan 4-H Global and Cultural Education Conference.

Judy serves on several boards that promote global and international understanding. She serves on the board of directors for Kids Can Make A Difference. This organization maintains a website dealing with hunger issues. She uses the website curriculum in her classroom and she has written newsletters for the organization. Heifer International is another organization close to Judy’s heart. She has been an active volunteer and presented at two workshops at Heifer University for Teachers in 2005. The organization’s listserv is frequently used by Judy to share ideas such as “Read to Feed”. Judy’s students are participating in this activity.

Judy Huynh’s passion and commitment to international study and understanding gives the students and community of Palo a chance to interact with the world up close and personal. I wish all students could have such a rich experience.

4. Testimonial from Celia Einhorn (4)
Other at iEARN
United States

Judy Huynh is a dynamic, creative, engaging educator who exemplifies the skills, character and commitment necessary for the effective engagement of students in the 21st century. Judy demonstrates inventive thinking, collaborative learning, high productivity, digital learning, and effective communication. Her middle name is Service Learning!

Inventive Thinking

Judy doesn't allow her students to think that, because they are in a small rural school, that their effectiveness is limited, and that they cannot make a global impact. Judy challenges and engages her students in thinking and acting as responsible, caring, and involved global citizens. Judy knows that “actions speak louder than words” and she models this in her teaching. Her commitment to service learning, compassion, energy, and experience become evident whether one reads an email or posting on a forum from her or personally meets her.

Innovative thinking and creative approaches characterize the ways Judy organizes, plans, funds, and implements service learning projects with her students. Her service learning projects have been used as models for other classrooms. Judy’s sixth grade students are active in, not only learning about, but also educating their community about world hunger. Annually, they coordinate an International Dinner to raise money for Heifer International, a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance and sustainability.

High Productivity

For nearly two decades, Judy has taught at Palo Community Schools and for several years, she has also served as their Service Learning Coordinator. The Michigan Council for Social Studies recognized her talents by naming her the 2003 Teacher of the Year.

She is a member of LATTICE (Linking All Types of Teachers To International and Cross-Cultural Education) at Michigan State University that involves international students and practicing educators. The goal of LATTICE is to change teachers' perspectives and thinking through collective study and discussion. It assumes that teachers can learn from getting to know international students well and thereby experience the life and cultures of the countries in question. Judy's sixth grade class also has a partnership with the Mohomou Refugee School in Guinea, which was established through RESPECT International (Refugee Education Sponsorship Program Enhancing Communities Together).

What began as a simple pen pal project, has developed into a partnership with Samuel Boateng and his class in Mohomou Refugee School in West Africa. The students in Judy's class have raised money and sent a shipment of soccer balls, book and small items like friendship bracelets to Samuel’s school, studied the refugee issue, and made the community aware of the plight of refugees. Students understood first hand the troubles and sorrow their pen pals had experienced in their short lives. To learn that they had the power to make a difference in someone's life was an eye-opening and life-changing experience for them.

Judy's students have also sent a video on "A Day in the Life of a Palo Student" to them, along with a video camera, and they sent us "A Day in the Life of a Mohomou Student". They have also sent Judy's class hand made coin purses, bead necklaces and bracelet, which are sold at the World Market at the International Dinner each year. The biggest project was helping get a computer lab set up in their school. $1000 from the International Dinner plus $1000 from Judy's church covered the costs of the computers.

This year Judy's classroom started a partnership with Peter Burrus Memorial Academy in Ghana. They are planning what to do next. Judy's 8th grade math students have been researching math games and activities to send to our new partner school. They are in the process of making the games and activities now, and hope to send them using some of the money from this year's International Dinner. These are games that need few supplies, but are great for learning math concepts.

Digital Learning

Judy's students yearly participate in the iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) Lewin project, a global anthology of student writing. In May of 2003, Judy participated in an iEARN/Columbia University face to face workshop with the US State Department's program Community Voices Collaborate Solutions. This is where Judy started to help iEARN define service learning. She shared the international and domestic workshop participants, a wonderful presentation on what her students have done and presented to all, darling note cards which her students created with digital pictures of Palo, MI. These postcards are sold by the students to raise funds to support their service learning projects. Judy continues to be a vital participant in iEARN's online forums.

Judy is also a member of the iEARN USA's cadre of US teachers who serve as an advisory board and as models for teachers in iEARN USA. Dictionary.com defines cadre as 1. A nucleus of personnel around which a larger organization can be built and 2. A tightly knit group of zealots. Judy depicts a knowledgeable educator who is zealous about teaching and learning.

Effective Communication

Judy believes teachers need to learn about service-learning. She is convinced that service learning helps teachers develop students as world citizens, involved in making their communities and the world a better place in which to live. Judy also stresses that students need to have opportunities that involve them in international studies to broaden their perspectives as world citizens.

In my iEARN online language arts class in 2003, Judy was an excellent, articulate peer tutor. Immediately colleagues realized the breadth of her knowledge of education and the depth of her caring for her students. She received an A+; it was her performance in this class that led to her being chosen to attend the iEARN/Columbia workshop and to being invited to make presentations throughout Michigan for iEARN USA.

It is an honor to recommend Judy. She understands the connections involved with teaching, learning, technology, community, and service learning, to make a positive difference in our world.

5. Testimonial from Deborah Wagner (5)
Other School Administrator at Ionia County Intermediate School Distric
United States

Judy Huynh is a 6th grade teacher in a rural K-8 school in Michigan. I have had the opportunity to work with Judy on a variety of levels for the last twelve years, first in her district and currently through my position with the intermediate school district. Judy is a passionate teacher always looking for new ways through technology and other resources to expand and support her curriculum, use best practices, and share global connections with her students and other teachers.

Many families in the community where Judy teaches lack the resources to travel outside their community due to high poverty and unemployment. Judy has used her vast experiences, knowledge of other countries, and technology to help her students move beyond their small community. She brings different cultures into her classroom with technology, pictures, and artifacts from other countries, food, and people.

Her students quickly pick up her passion and empathy for others and quickly realize that the world is a diverse place. Her students have enthusiastically devised projects to address hunger and the plight of refugees throughout the world. The students have done a variety of service learning projects from Operation Christmas Child to an International Dinner. Funds have been sent to Heifer International, have funded school supplies, computers and books for Mohomou Refugee School in Guinea, Africa.

Judy’s influence on young people goes beyond her own classroom walls. Judy, her students, and others have participated in a pen pal program with students from other countries through IEARN. She had extra letters one year and shared with a student she knew in another school. This student after learning about the need for books in English for students at Mohomou Refugee School in Guinea, Africa through her pen pal organized a book drive. Her book drive collected 2000 new and gently used book for Mohomou Refugee School. The student involved others in her school, partnered with Judy’s class to get the books sent that resulted in books for Mohomou Refugee School and the establishment of a service learning class in her middle school. The student is also the 2006 Prudential Spirit of Community Honoree for Michigan as a result.

Judy is also a leading service learning practitioner. She is a model and guide in her county with other teachers. She has assisted Ionia County Intermediate School District (regional education service agency) plan and implement professional development in the area of service learning and social studies. She is currently working with a committee to plan a summer institute for service learning for teachers in Ionia County.

Judy has shared her expertise in service learning and social studies not only locally but at the state and national levels. She has presented on IEARN and its pen pal program, she has also shared her students’ poetry that has been part of an online poetry exchange with students from around the world at the state and national social studies conference and in February at the state service learning conference with several other teachers.

Judy is currently a state service learning fellow with Michigan Community Service Commission. She has shared her knowledge of on-line opportunities for exchange between students world-wide with other state service learning fellows in the program. Judy is always looking for new opportunities to introduce her students and others to the world that exists beyond their community and one of her tools has been the use of online opportunities.

6. Testimonial from Marc Schaeffer (6)
Teacher at RESPECT International
Canada

Greetings. My name is Marc Schaeffer (B. Sc., B. Ed.). I am a teacher and founder of an organization called Refugee Education Sponsorship Program: Enhancing Communities Together (RESPECT International). RESPECT works to increase awareness of refugee issues in part by introducing refugee students to non-refugee students by pen-pal letter exchange.

I have known Judy Huynh for around four years now. I came to know about Judy through her work with International Educators And Resource Network (IEARN). Judy registered her class for RESPECT International through the IEARN network. Some teachers just engage in the letter exchange program but Judy took her participation in this program to a new level.

Judy’s class was introduced to a group of refugee students living in Guinea. She prepared her students for the letter exchange by showing her class videos she acquired through UNHCR and discussions. Students replied to letters and Judy developed a strong relationship with the country coordinator of RESPECT in Guinea, Samuel Boateng – this relationship became so strong that that Samuel eventually named his son after Judy!

Judy is also deeply involved in Service Learning in her community attending conferences across the USA and giving workshops nationally as well. In fact, Judy was invited to present to Adult Secondary Education Council here in Winnipeg, Canada about Service Learning to great reviews. Through Service Learning, Judy’s school in Palo puts on an International Dinner every year which raises a few thousand dollars to be used for charitable purposes. Judy lobbied to see some of the funds contributed to establish a computer resource center in Mohomou Refugee School – their partner school. To this day, eight functioning computers are used 12 hours a day to teach 24 students at a time computer skills where there were none before thanks to the efforts and leadership of Judy Huynh with her class, school and community.

Since then, Judy and her class have sent a digital video camera to Mohomou Refugee School so that they could exchange video and her students could learn even more about life in this refugee community.

Judy’s class is now working on ways to integrate her students’ Mathematics curriculum with a letter exchange between her students and refugee students in Ghana (Buduburam Refugee Camp).

Judy's leadership extends to acting on the board of Kids Make A Difference and RESPECT International.

Judy commits a tremendous amount of expertise and energy to teaching her classes creatively and meaningfully. She has shared her energies and expertise in workshops in the USA and in Canada. It is my honour and privilege to give this testimonial for Judy Huynh for this Global School Net Award.

http://www.respectrefugees.org/ezine/ezine20050218_heroes.shtml

7. Testimonial from Diane Midness (7)
Other at iEARN USA
United States

I highly recommend Judy Huynh for the GSN Online Shared Learning Award. She has unselfishly given her time and energy to help teachers and students in her community and beyond connect to others in the world and has worked to help teachers around the US and the world be successful in global collaborative project-based learning. Students in small rural community of Palo, Michigan are collaborating with students around the world because of her efforts.

Judy has been chosen by iEARN USA to be a member of its US Professional Development Cadre to help with the task of informing US teachers on how they can bring the world to their classrooms through iEARN projects and help them learn how to implement projects in their classrooms. She has conducted workshops for iEARN USA for all age levels and represented it at national and regional conferences. She has presented for iEARN at several National Council for the Social Studies Conferences telling others how she makes social studies real for her students by having them collaborate with others around the world. She has also represented Heifer International and the RESPECT and Refugees Projects nationally and internationally. She has made presentations at the Michigan Service Learning Conferences, Michigan Council for the Social Studies Conferences, and the Michigan 4-H Global and Cultural Education Workshop, sharing how she has connected her students with others around the world.

Because of Judy’s enthusiasm and encouragement to fellow participants in the iEARN online creative writing professional development course, she was invited to attend an iEARN Master Training seminar at Columbia Teachers’ College in New York City. She was one of 6 US representatives in the training that included teachers from Egypt, India, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The group formed close relationships and continue to communicate and share project ideas with each other.

Judy has had students involved in several iEARN projects, including LEWIN, RESPECT and Refugees, Laws of Life, and Cultural Recipes Book. In LEWIN her students have been perfecting their writing skills by contributing to a global anthology of student writing on the LEWIN interactive forum. There they also respond to writings of other students. Her students’ writings have been published in LEWIN publications since 2003. In RESPECT and Refugees her classrooms have established an ongoing relationship with the Mohomou Refugee School in Guinea. Her classroom has involved their local community to collect funds to provide a computer lab for the school. In Laws of Life her students share principals and virtues that are important to them. They also respond to students around the world who have shared their essays. Every year Judy helps her school sponsor an International Banquet. In preparation her students look at the recipes and customs shared from around the world in the Cultural Recipes forum. The teachers at her school have been so impressed by the work her students have done they have decided to have the whole school involved in global collaboration this next school year.

Besides her work with iEARN, Judy takes advantage of other opportunities to help her students become global citizens. She has worked with Peace Corps volunteers, is a member of the board of Kids Can Make a Difference and does volunteer work for Heifer International. She teaches her students that service learning can be fun and rewarding. Judy Huynh would be a great recipient of the GSN Online Shared Learning Award. I feel certain she would use the opportunity to convince others to have their students involved in learning with others around the world.

8. Testimonial from Karen Merchant (8)
Teacher Elementary/Primary (ages 5-12) at Palo Community School, retired
United States

I had the pleasure of working with Judy Huynh at Palo School for many years. Because of her efforts and passions, I was awakened to the need to make a difference in the world when it comes to diversity and tolerance. Judy also instilled this need to her students. Palo School is a very, very small rural school in Michigan. The school population has no minorities. The only information that these students have about people and cultures in other parts of the world is from TV. Judy presents in depth and fun lessons on cultures from other parts of the world, in particular Asia and Africa. Her students are penpals with a refugee school in Africa. This refugee school became a focus for our Service Learning efforts. We were able to send them physical education equipment, books, and computers. Now these students can converse on the internet with the students. The students in Judy's room share their work and interests with students from other countries on the iEarn website. To further help the students understand the needs of the people of the world, she has them become involved with Heifer Project International.

Judy shares her passions for these programs by being a presenter at the Social Studies and Service Learning Conferences, both at the state and national level.

Judy is the Service Learning Coordinator at our school and recently has added the "Learning to Give" program, which focuses on being a philanthropist by giving of your time, talent, and/or treasure. Her goal is to help our youth become more educated in their view of the world. Her hope is that they will willingly want to be a helper. That is the first step toward becoming more tolerant of differences in people and cultures.

Being around Judy is a joy and a challenge. She is a joy because she has respect and love for everyone. She is a challenge because she urges you to "do" and "be" more. Students, parents, and peers all benefit from being involved with Judy and her passions.

9. Testimonial from Susan Seyfarth (9)
Teacher Elementary/Primary (ages 5-12) at Wilcox Elementary school
United States

Judy Huynh and I met at a LATTICE (Linking all Types of Teachers to International Cross-Cultural Education) meeting over five years ago. Participating in both the monthly LATTICE sessions and LATTICE book club meetings have allowed me to know Judy and become acquainted with the activities in which she and her students participate.

Presentations to the entire LATTICE group inspire both its local and international members. Examples of her students’ involvement in service-learning projects clearly demonstrate how her knowledge and passion is transmitted to them. These meaningful, well-planned and executed projects directly impact children in other parts of the world and in the local community. From the organization of International Dinners to the creation of stationery, the students gain skills and understanding while contributing to the wellbeing of others. Judy serves as a model to many when sharing these projects.

One of Judy’s presentations in LATTICE described her involvement in iEARN (International Education and Resource Network). Her enthusiasm led me to getting involved in that organization as well. It has proven to be a valuable learning experience for both my students and me. Judy has given workshops at several conferences nationwide inspiring others to join iEARN members worldwide in service-based learning projects involving a global online community.

Judy’s background experiences, knowledge, and enthusiasm all contribute to her role in promoting online shared learning projects with her students, community, and cohorts. I am pleased to have the opportunity to provide a testimonial for such a deserving colleague and friend.

10. Testimonial from Betsy Knox (10)
Other at Michigan 4-H Youth Development
United States

I have known Judy Huynh since 1978 when I left Chicago to became the Ionia County Michigan 4-H Youth Development Agent. 4-H is a youth development program that specializes in an experiential education, life skill building, and community based teaching model. 4-H works with both in- and out-of school educational settings. Judy was one of the first 4-H volunteer leaders I met in my novice 4-H career. She also became one of the most supportive, dependable, creative, committed and passionate volunteers among the hundreds of volunteers I worked with over my nearly ten years in Ionia. She was always on the cutting-edge of thinking about how to reach youth. She embraced new ideas and new methodologies. I remember Judy as a true interdisciplinary educator – she brought together content areas such as goats, rabbits, foods, cultural heritage, and international programming as one wonderful concoction of hands-on experiences to reach and excite youth.

Since 1988, I had the good fortune for Judy to continue to be involved with 4-H statewide. At that time, I became a Michigan 4-H Program Leader in arts. Later my job responsibilities included natural resources & environmental education and global & cultural education. In 1989, Judy became active in our newly created Michigan 4-H China Project with Sichuan Province, PRC. This is statewide global education program that uses the arts for both in-school and out-of school learning experiences. Judy initiated her school’s participation in this program, including the 4-H Art Exchange and A Child’s Life in China.

In the last four years, Judy has been active in shaping our new Michigan 4-H Global and Cultural Education Program. Judy and a team of both formal and non-formal educators shaped the vision and goals that will drive this program for the next ten plus years. The vision is two-fold: 1) to prepare youth for a globally interdependent world, including global civic responsibility and 2) to prepare youth for the rich diversity of cultural groups at home and around the world. The program objectives are to move youth from awareness to caring to serving others. Judy had a profound influence on that vision. One program strategy is to connect youth through technology; this is where Judy will increasingly play an important role for 4-H in Michigan. We need her expertise and inspiration.

At our 2005 Michigan 4-H Global and Culture Education volunteer leader training workshop, Judy conducted a presentation on ‘Connecting Kids: Pen Pals Exchange and Community Service.’ The purpose of the presentation was to show how 4-H volunteers can connect their 4-H groups electronically with children and youth globally, including with refugee students in Africa and Asia via RESPECT International. RESPECT was just one of many ways these volunteer educators were inspired to work electronically with youth.

Judy is a visionary with loads of energy. I am honored to submit a testimonial on her behalf.

Betsy McPherson Knox Program Leader Michigan 4-H Youth Development

11. Testimonial from Olga Albert (11)
Teacher Middle School (ages 11-14) at Belding Middle School
United States

I first met Judy Huynh through a colleague that worked with her at Palo. My first impression of Judy was her knowledge of other cultures in our world and her passion to share that knowledge and excite that passion, to learn about other cultures, in her students. She also was eager to share some of the projects, in which she and her students were involved, with me. She told me about the iEARN project, an ongoing pen pal relationship with a Mohomou Refugee School in Guines, in which her students were involved. I was very impressed, to say the least. What a great opportunity it was for her sixth grade students to communicate with other students from across the world!

When she told me about some of their service projects and the exchange of items to support the service projects, I thought that she must be a "one in a million" teacher to arrange such activities in the small school of Palo. I attended the International Dinner at Palo and was again amazed with the extent of the school support and participation. That is, in large part, due to Judy's work. Her passion for educating about other cultures in our world and communicating with people from other parts of the world through the internet is contagious.

One of the eighth grade students from my school obtained a pen pal through Judy's iEARN project. She wrote to the other girl and as a result discovered that books to assist in learning to read English were needed in that country. The student then developed a project that collected over 2000 books to send to the other country. Judy Huynh was instrumental in exciting the passion in this student to communicate, learn about and help another culture.

Judy has been an encourager and teacher for me. I am teaching a service learning class for the first time this year. Judy has shared many ideas via email and also invited me to become a member of a multi-cultural group called the LATTICE Book Club.I recieve information about cross-cultural events through the LATTICE listserv. I also have been introduced to books written about other cultures of the world. This has helped to widen my scope of the world and thus to share that perspective to my middle school students.

I think that Judy Huynh is the perfect candidate for the Global SchoolNet Foundation Online Shared Learning Award. She has encouraged me to attempt new projects using technology as a learning tool for ideas and collaboration. In fact, she is teaching me to be a collaborator with others!