Florence Schook School of Numismatics Established
ANA Board Votes Unanimously to Honor Educational Icon
The American Numismatic Association Board of Governors has voted unanimously to create the Florence Schook School of Numismatics in honor of one of the Association’s most beloved members, who dedicated much of her life to educating young numismatists, President Barry Stuppler has announced.
Named in honor of the late Florence Schook, who died in 2006, the Florence Schook School of Numismatics will house all ANA educational programs for young numismatists and adults, both online and in the classroom. Summer Seminar will be the flagship program, but classes and seminars at conventions, remote sites and online will also be included.
The Florence Schook School will be accounted for as a separate entity, allowing donors to fund specific classes and certification programs with the assurance that the funds will be used for their intended purposes, Stuppler said. Funding will be used to expand YN programs, including a new “Introduction to Coin Collecting” class, YN curriculum track and an internship program. The ANA also will place qualifying YNs with selected ANA member dealers for summer employment, and develop online mentoring and social networking programs for YNs.
“Creating the Florence Schook School of Numismatics forever honors the one person who, arguably, has had the greatest individual impact on young numismatists in ANA history,” Stuppler said. “Florence has been universally praised by virtually every young student who was inspired by her passion for numismatic education.”
ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd said establishing the School allows the ANA to “make a renewed commitment to provide the best educational programs and resources in numismatics to collectors of any age or level.” He added that adult programs will be expanded to provide support and resources for new collectors, as well as intermediate and advanced programs to help attract new members, retain existing ones and enrich the numismatic experience for all collectors.
Funds donated to the Florence Schook School also will be used for scholarships, salaries for numismatic educators to develop new curriculum and online content, equipment, and other expenses necessary to operate the school. Page 2 “Creating this School re-emphasizes the ANA’s educational mission,” Shepherd said. “Through the Florence Schook School, we will educate a new generation of collectors, enrich the collecting experience for seasoned numismatists and enhance the bright future of the numismatic hobby.”
Stuppler said the ANA has been approached by a number of Florence Schook’s former students who have expressed an interest in honoring her memory. “We hope to raise $4.5 million over the next few years so that the Florence Schook School can grow into an educational Mecca for all numismatists,” Stuppler said. Donations would be used to create an online university, accreditation and certification programs for collectors and dealers, and a virtual museum with extensive online curriculum available to all who wish to expand their numismatic knowledge.
“The goal is to create an ANA website that will be the first stop for numismatic education while also enhancing our more traditional classes and workshops at Summer Seminar, conventions and other sites,” Stuppler said.
Originally Release Date: October 20, 2008
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