ERMS 7th Grade History Teachers to Receive Anna Keeler Award at Keeler Tavern Museum Gala

At its annual Gala on October 30, Keeler Tavern Museum (KTM) will be presenting the inaugural Anna Keeler Award for “Excellence in History and Civics Education.” The recipients of the award - all 7th grade Social Studies teachers at East Ridge Middle School - are Andrea Donigian, Steve Ruland and Mike Settanni. They are being honored for partnering with KTM in developing a 7th grade pilot program to teach the impact of the Civil War on Ridgefield using Keeler Tavern Museum and its collection as a primary resource.

“It was the unstinting support of our education partners from East Ridge Middle School that allowed us to develop a successful 7th grade pilot program about Ridgefield’s Civil War years,” said Hildi Grob, KTM Executive Director. “For the first time we were able to provide some 300 7th graders with a wonderful authentic experience here on our campus using the museum’s resources to teach local history as a window onto the larger national stage.”

“I am extremely proud and honored to be thought of for this award,” said Mike Settanni, echoing his colleague’s sentiments. “It has been my pleasure to work with Keeler Tavern Museum to help kids in our town appreciate local history. I was also extremely thankful for the tremendous amount of work that took place on KTM’s part. The kids really did learn a lot and I personally used that day as the kickoff for my teams’ Civil War projects.”

The award is named after Anna Keeler - youngest daughter of Timothy and Esther Keeler - who owned the property in the 19th century together with her husband Abijah Resseguie. As a young woman she taught school at Whipstick School, as recorded in her daughter Anna Marie Resseguie’s journal. She was paid a dollar a week, or ten shillings, and rode horseback to the school.

The award is being presented by Joan A. Payden, who in turn is being honored by Keeler Tavern Museum for her part in launching KTM’s Education Initiative. A California philanthropist with a Connecticut heritage, Ms. Payden is well known for her support of cultural organizations. She is especially interested in the museum’s ability to provide children with experiences that complement and enhance their classroom study of civics and history. “The most valuable gift we can give our children is the gift of education rich in culture and history,” Ms. Payden said.

“Joan has had a tremendous impact on our organization and has truly enabled us to get a step closer to our goal of becoming a regional center for history and heritage education,” said Joel Third, Museum President. “It is an honor to present the Cannonball Award to someone who is such a firm believer in history and civics education and recognizes the importance of sharing our incredible resources with a wider audience of all ages. We also want to thank friends and supporters of KTM and the community at large for having responded generously to the call for matching donations with the goal of raising a total of $100,000 by year’s end.”

Ms. Payden is the president and chief executive officer of Payden & Rygel, the global investment management firm that she founded in 1983. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Boston, London and Paris. She was born in Connecticut, and her family on both her mother’s and father’s side goes back four generations in the state.

The Gala will be held at the Salem Golf Club, 18 Bloomer Road in North Salem, New York, from 7 to 11 p.m. Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, and dancing to a live band. There will be silent and live auctions, casino games, and a photo booth. Tickets are $150 per person. Sponsorship are available at the following levels: Platinum $5,000 (table for 10); Gold $3,000 (table for 8); Silver $1,500 (4 tickets); and Bronze $500 (2 tickets). $75 of each ticket is tax deductible.

Arrangements for sponsorships and tickets can be made by calling the KTM business office at 203-438-5485 or emailing info@keelertavernmuseum.org. Online registration is available at keelertavernmuseum.org.

 

 

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Submitted by Ridgefield, CT

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