Award for excellence in urban education honors a community champion

The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Education is now accepting nominations for the Hugh J. Zimmer Award for Excellence in Urban Education.

The award is named for longtime UMKC and School of Education benefactor Hugh J. Zimmer, a noted business and civic leader and ardent supporter of urban education.

Zimmer was the inaugural recipient of the Urban Education award in 2013. The next recipient will be announced at the 2016 Urban Education and Community Forum, an annual event sponsored by the School of Education during the spring semester.

Zimmer also was awarded the UMKC Chancellor’s Medal in 2010, the highest non-academic award UMKC offers to a volunteer.

In presenting Zimmer with the inaugural Urban Education award in 2013, UMKC Chancellor Leo E. Morton cited Zimmer for his “enthusiasm and passion” for promoting excellent schooling and improving the lives, opportunities and communities of urban residents throughout the United States, with a focus on the Greater Kansas City community.

“We are actively seeking nominations of urban educators and urban education supporters from our region who are following Hugh Zimmer’s example of passion and commitment to urban young people and their communities,” said selection committee chair Edward Underwood, Ph.D., Executive Director and Kauffman Endowed Chair of the Institute for Urban Education at the School of Education. “It is our responsibility to honor those who both recognize the need for extra attention and resources in urban schools, and are finding success in meeting that need.”

Nomination forms, eligibility information and instructions are available at http://education.umkc.edu/research/zimmeraward/. The nomination deadline is Sept. 30, 2015.