The Army Heritage Center Foundation announces its receipt of a $100,000 US Department of Education grant to support its “Voices of the Past Speak to the Future” educational program. This program provides outstanding educational opportunities for students at the US Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) and classroom materials and professional development opportunities for teachers in Central Pennsylvania and across the Nation.

The Army Heritage Center Foundation received this grant through the efforts of Senator Arlen Specter, Senator Bob Casey, Congressman Todd Platts (R-19), and Congressman Bill Shuster (R-9) who worked with other legislators to ensure funds were included in the 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed in December for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Department of Education.

“This grant represents a significant commitment on the part of our legislators, the US Department of Education and this Foundation to provide quality enhancements to educational programs at the Army Heritage and Education Center and educational materials for teachers and students throughout the Nation,” stated Army Heritage Center Foundation Executive Director Mike Perry. Administered through U.S. Department of Education Funds for the Improvement of Education, these funds will support the Foundation’s Education Department in continuing their innovative educational programs.

Using the theme, “Voices of the Past Speak to the Future,” the Foundation’s efforts support national and state standards for the teaching of history. College students majoring in history, education, and related fields work with Foundation staff to enhance existing educational materials and programs as well as develop new materials and programs based on the collections at the AHEC. High school students enrolled in school-to-career programs gain experience and make significant contributions to the development of educational materials and programs.

Jeff Hawks, the Foundation’s Educational Director stated that “Over the years the Foundation has developed a series of interactive CD-ROM’s, books, and a DVD that have been extremely well received in the educational community. These products focus on making primary sources, including first-hand accounts of historical events existing only at AHEC, available to teachers for classroom use.” In addition to these products, the Foundation also hosts workshops and other professional development opportunities for teachers. The Foundation is an authorized provider of Act 48 continuing education credit for certified Pennsylvania teachers and is recognized as a provider of innovative educational programs through the Commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

The Foundation is partnering with the Army, Cumberland County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and corporations, foundations and private individuals to help expand the US Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) and its programs on a 56 acre complex in Middlesex Township. The USAHEC currently consists of the Army’s Military History Institute and the Army Heritage Trail. The Foundation and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania funded Visitor and Education Center and the federally funded Museum Support and Conservation Facility are currently under construction. Future expansion plans include a second phase of the Visitor and Education Center and the Army Heritage Museum.