(Published Friday Jan. 11, 2008)

Educator award given to local grad

A Corvallis High School and Oregon State University graduate received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award and $25,000 cash for his work as principal of Forest Grove High School.

John P. O’Neill graduated from CHS in 1984 and from OSU in 1988. Before he began working as principal of Forest Grove High School six years ago, 50 percent of the high school’s students met the state reading benchmarks. In 2006-07, about 70 percent met the state reading benchmarks. Scores in math also jumped, from 29 percent in the 2001-02 school year to 68 percent in 2006-07.

O’Neill is credited with implementing a transition program for incoming freshmen, small-school learning communities, reading and math enrichment courses and an expanded advanced placement curriculum at the school, as well as empowering staff to improve academics.

Criteria for the Milken Educator Award include exceptional educational talent, as evidenced by effective instructional practices and results in the classroom; exemplary educational accomplishments beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession and an engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community.

“Milken Educator Award recipients are honored for what they have achieved, but even more for what they will accomplish. In this way, these awards anticipate lifetime achievement. They recognize lifetime promise,” said Milken Family Foundation Chairman and Co-Founder Lowell Milken.

OSU’s Frohnmayer receives fellowship

Oregon State University affiliate professor John Frohnmayer has received a 2007 Oregon Literary Fellowship for his musical comedy “Spin.”

Frohnmayer said he will donate the fellowship’s $2,500 cash award toward the production of the play, which will have its world premiere May 8 at Oregon State University.

Frohnmayer, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, teaches courses in constitutional law at OSU. He also is running as an Independent candidate for U.S. Senate.

University director Marion Rossi will direct “Spin,” with Richard Poppino working on the musical side of the performance. The play and song lyrics were written by Frohnmayer, and the music was written by Sila Shaman, a Turkish-born jazz pianist whose husband teaches at OSU.

Ten writers and two publishers received Oregon Literary Fellowships this year, from a pool of 400 applicants. The works submitted for consideration were judged by an out-of-state panel. The announcement went out Tuesday, and a reception for winners takes place Feb. 27.

“Spin” will be performed at OSU May 8-10 and May 15-17.

Gazette-Times