Bringing the World Into U.S. Classrooms: Visionaries Honored with the 20th Annual McGraw Prize in Education

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The 2007 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education honors three innovators - Lois B. DeFleur, Reynauld Smith and Vivien Stewart - who are educating U.S. students for a global age. Announced today by Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The McGraw-Hill Companies, the honorees will be recognized this evening at a dinner at the New York Public Library.

"The world has changed dramatically since the creation 20 years ago of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education," said Mr. McGraw. "Today's students must acquire broader knowledge and deeper understanding of our interdependent world. The three educators we honor this year understand that a well-rounded education is the new currency of today's global economy and have demonstrated a true commitment to helping young people develop the skill sets needed to succeed."

The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education annually recognizes outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to enhancing learning in this country and whose accomplishments are making a difference today. Honorees are chosen by a distinguished panel of judges from the education community. Each winner receives a gift of $25,000 and a bronze sculpture. The Prize was established in 1988 to honor Mr. McGraw's lifelong commitment to education, and to mark the Corporation's 100th anniversary.

"The success of our students and the competitiveness of our nation are dependent upon new and creative thinking by educators," said Mr. McGraw. "The 2007 McGraw Prize honorees, like those who've gone before them, are focused on the challenges the next generation will be facing, and how to best help them learn and achieve."

2007 McGraw Prize Winners:

Lois B. DeFleur -- Lois B. DeFleur, fifth president of Binghamton University, State University of New York, has overseen the implementation of an innovative general education program for all undergraduates, which has been recognized nationwide for its many opportunities for studying other cultures either on campus or in other countries. Binghamton University also offers ground-breaking programs that encourage language education across the curriculum and dual-diploma programs with universities in several countries.

Reynauld Smith -- Reynauld Smith, a social studies and Advanced Placement (AP) American History teacher at Washington, D.C.'s Eastern High School, took over the school's fledgling Model United Nations program in 1999, and introduced the program as part of his AP American History class. Smith has worked with 500 students in his Model United Nations program and has taken dozens of students to Ecuador, Portugal, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. He previously taught in Montgomery County, MD, where he helped start a diversity club for U.S. and international students.

Vivien Stewart -- Vivien Stewart, vice president for education at Asia Society, has used her global focus to develop a network of state and national education leaders to expand international programs across the country, and created a national initiative to encourage the teaching of Chinese. She also manages a prize program to recognize excellence in international education. Stewart ensures that teachers and students have the training and resources they need through a model network of internationally oriented schools in inner-cities around the U.S. and an award-winning Asia Society Web site. In addition, Stewart oversees a series of international exchanges to share expertise between American and Asian education leaders on how to improve education to meet the demands of globalization.

Former Winners:

In 2006, the honorees were: Norman Augustine, Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation; Wendy Kopp, then President, now Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Teach for America; and Vincent Murray, Principal, Henry W. Grady High School, Atlanta, Georgia. Past honorees include: Barbara Bush, Founder, Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy; James B. Hunt, Jr., Former Governor of North Carolina; Former U.S. Secretaries of Education Richard Riley and Rod Paige; Carl Cohn, Former Superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District (now Superintendent, San Diego Unified School District, California); Yvonne Chan, Ed.D., Principal, Vaughn Next Century Learning Center; Mary E. Diez, Ph.D., Dean of Education, Alverno College; and Dennis Littky, Co-Director of The Met and Director of the Principal Residency Network.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

Release issued: September 25, 2007