Georgia Historical Society Awarded $1,000 Century Service Grant by Rotary Club of Savannah
Savannah, Ga., March 25, 2014 - The Georgia Historical Society has received the Century Service Award of the Rotary Club of Savannah. The award is a $1,000 grant to purchase video equipment and software to create educational videos to share with teachers and students across the state.
The first project on tap for the new equipment is Sophia’s Schoolhouse, a video program designed to introduce teachers and students to Georgia history using primary sources. The episodes are hosted by GHS Education Coordinator Sophia Sineath and will integrate primary source materials from the GHS Research Center’s library and archive to help students more fully understand a particular topic from Georgia’s diverse and storied past.
“We are grateful to the Rotary Club of Savannah for selecting GHS to receive one of the Century Service Grants,” said Sophia Sineath, Education Coordinator for the Georgia Historical Society. “GHS has a treasure trove of artifacts, manuscripts, maps, and portraits and with the new video equipment we can introduce those primary sources to teachers and students in an exciting and interesting way. Current educational standards focus on getting students to learn, think, and write like young scholars. These videos will serve as a resource for teachers as they instruct on both content and literacy, while fostering development of analytical thinking and writing skills.”
The equipment will also be used to create and deliver online professional development opportunities for educators, expanding the reach of successful GHS teacher-training initiatives. Digitally recording historical marker dedications, GHS lecture programming, and in-school presentations will expand the reach of programs to teachers, students, and general audiences across the state who are unable to participate in person. All programs will be available on the GHS website at georgiahistory.com.
The award is one of ten that the Rotary Club of Savannah will grant between February and November 2014. Mike Traynor, President of the Rotary Club of Savannah and publisher of the Savannah Morning News made the official award notification to Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society.
In honor of the Rotary Club’s Centennial Celebration, the Georgia Historical Society is showcasing items from our collection highlighting the history of the Rotary Club of Savannah. The exhibit can be viewed in the Reading Room of Hodgson Hall, 501 Whitaker Street, through April 19th. It is free and open to the public during regular Research Center hours.
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SAVANNAH: 501 Whitaker St., Savannah, GA 31401
ATLANTA: 260 14th St., NW, Ste. A-148, Atlanta, GA 30318