Hershberger receives Milken Award

Denise Hershberger (Liptak, '74) was a recent recipient of the 1996 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. She is an elementary school principal at Bayside Elementary School in Stevensville, MD.

Since 1987, the Milken family has spent more than $25 million recognizing outstanding elementary and secondary educators nationwide. Hershberger joins a group of 138 educators from around the country, who will each receive $25,000 at award banquets in their respective states. The honorees will also participate in the Foundation's National Education Conference in Los Angeles.

Hershberger, who received her B.S. degree in elementary education, explained, "The Milken Family helps to publicize excellent achievements in education. The award recognizes outstanding education leaders and spotlights the whole education field. This year, elementary leaders are being recognized, while next year secondary leaders will be recognized."

Hershberger was shocked that she had even been nominated. "I was nominated anonymously," she says. "The nomination process is very extensive and my peers and supervisors were given a packet of information to fill out pertaining to my achievements and my work." Carol Williamson, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in Queen Anne's County, recommended Hershberger for the award.

She is very optimistic about the success of this award for herself and for her school. "I will be involved in a lot of additional education programs as a result of this award," she says. "I hope this is a great incentive to other people around me. I also hope this will provide a big boost to good education universities like Clarion University. This award will be a big success to myself and my work."

Hershberger received her masters degree in education from Towson University in Maryland in 1981 and earned a graduate certificate in School Management from Loyola College in 1988. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Hershberger began her career 22 years ago as a reading and physical education teacher at Tilghman Elementary School on Tilghman Island. Since then, she has served as an assistant principal at Easton Middle School in Easton, and principal at White Marsh Elementary School in Talbot County.

Hershberger lives with her husband Gary ('73) and two daughters, Erin and Susan, in Arnold, MD .