Busy first few months for Milford Education Foundation

The newly established Milford Education Foundation (MEF) had a busy summer. A twenty member Board of Directors was installed in early July, and this all-volunteer organization went right to work planning  community-centered activities. On July 17th, the group hosted a Family Take it Apart Night. More than twenty-five curious minds brought an array of electronic devices to the Margaret Egan Center and investigated their inner workings. Electrical engineer John Bassett  guided participants (youngsters from grades K-3)  through the mysterious mechanisms of  their gadgets. On July 31st at the Milford Public Library, the group held its first book club gathering for 5th-8th graders to talk about the book The Scorpio Races. Everyone who attended enjoyed the lively discussion.

In early August dozens of new faces interested in finding out about the organization attended Milford Education Foundation’s Meet and Greet event at Bridge House restaurant in Devon.  Attendees heard from founding members, Augie Harrigan and Dr. Jennifer Ju , about MEF’s inception, accomplishments and goals. Near the end of the month, MEF, Milford Recreation Department and Milford Prevention Council presented the first free Outdoor Movie Night under the Rotary Pavilion behind the Milford Public Library. On a beautiful late summer evening, approximately 150 people watched the animated feature, How to Train Your Dragon. The event started with a live video interview with Bill Tessier, one of the film’s animators, and questions were fielded by MEF President James Maroney. The group also unveiled its unofficial new mascot—a giant zebra.

The mascot was proudly featured at the group’s First Annual Mini-Golf Classic on Saturday, October 19th at the Sports Center of CT in Shelton. Other activities from the Fall included: an Outdoor Movie Night featuring Barnyard on October 4th;  and a speaker meeting on Innovations in Education at Bridge House on Wednesday, October 9th. The speaker meeting featured Jake Mendelssohn, current President of the Connecticut Robotics Society, who presented comparisons of the US and Chinese education systems and highlighted how the inventing process, promoted by the CT Invention Convention program, can enhance school curricula and student achievement.

On Wednesday, November 6, MEF will host another Innovations In Education speaker meeting featuring Michael Cummings, Assistant Superintendent of Milford Public Schools. All of these events reflect Milford Education Foundation’s mission: to promote excellence, innovation and creativity in education for our children and community.