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Annual Conference

Irving Morrissett Award for Outstanding Contribution to Social Science Education

Each year since 2003, the SSEC Board of Directors has presented this award to an SSEC member who has devoted his/her career to improving social studies/social science education.  Criteria for award selection include documented evidence of improving the field, significant scholarly publications, continuing commitment to the field, and continuing commitment to the Social Science Education Consortium.  The award is presented at the annual meeting of the organization. 

This year’s winner is Dr. Murry Nelson, Professor Emeritus of Education and American Studies, The Pennsylvania State University.  Nelson is widely recognized for his contributions to the history of sports in America, social studies/science curriculum history, and numerous publications on various issues in the field. He received three Fulbright scholar awards and has served the SSEC since 1982 through his writing and Board membership. 

Previous winners of the Morrissett award are listed below. 

    • 2009   Charles Mitsakos, Retired Professor, Rivier College
    • 2008  Mary Hepburn, Retired Civic Educator, University of Georgia
    • 2007   Suzanne W. Helburn, Professor Emerita of Economics, University of Colorado/Denver
    • 2006   Gerald Marker, Emeritus Professor of Education, Indiana University
    • 2005  Mary Jane Turner, Retired Civic Educator, Close Up Foundation (posthumous award)
    • 2004   Marion J. Rice, Retired Professor of Social Science Education, University of Georgia
    • 2003   Irving Morrissett, Executive Director Emeritus, Social Science Education Consortium

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A New Look at Hungary and Hungarian-American Interactions
By Murry Nelson
SSEC Annual Meeting in Hungary June 16-23, 2010

The SSEC will meet in Hungary in June of 2010 in a different format.  Our theme is “A New Look at Hungary and Hungarian-American Interactions.”  We will combine travel with sessions in Budapest, Eger, and Debrecen.  I recently returned from a trip to Hungary and tried to view all of our meeting locations through ”innocent” eyes, and was struck by the charm and beauty of where we will be visiting.  Our meeting will commence in Budapest with a welcome reception and a short slide lecture on the architecture of Budapest, to begin mid-afternoon of June 16.  For those wishing to arrive earlier, the negotiated hotel rate at one of our hotels will be the same for dates before or after the conference.  June 17 is a free day in Budapest, and there is a great deal to see, whether one has been in Budapest before or not.  I will have tips on using the Metro and getting around on foot.

Danube River in Budapest looking at the Caste in Buda.
Danube River in Budapest looking at the Caste in Buda.

On the morning of June 18, we will take the train to Eger, the second most visited city in Hungary and the site of the deepest north incursion of the Ottoman Turks.  A minaret from that invasion still stands in Eger, along with wonderful buildings and a castle to tour.  We will be hosted by Esterhazi Karoly College and the American Corner in Eger.  After a tour of the city, there will be a wine tasting event at the wine cave of the university rector.  The next day, June 19, there will be a series of presentations by college faculty before the group takes the train to Tokaj.

 

Minaret in the center of Eger.

 

 

Statue of Bacchus in central Tokaj.

Tokaj is a charming little town that is the center of the Hungarian wine industry.  There are festivals each weekend and we will arrive in time to experience that, as well as wine tasting at another winery.  Tokaj wines are sweeter and lighter and the grapes are harvested in mid- to late October.  Our host will explain all this as part of our experience.  There will be choices of hotels in Tokaj. 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, June 20, we will take a train to Debrecen, just over an hour away.  There we will be met by a local teacher, who will lead a tour of the city center, which will include a visit to her high school, although school will have been dismissed for the summer.  We will stay in the center of the city, but will have sessions at the University of Debrecen and travel there by tram on Monday, June 21.  Session presentations will be by faculty from a variety of disciplines—history, political science, and English, as well as a local government official.  Our business meeting will be in Debrecen and we will have our dinner at one of a number of restaurants in the Great Forest.  Participants may choose where they wish to dine.  The next day’s morning session (June 22) will be held at the American Corner in Debrecen, just down from our hotel.  Following this session, we will be “dismissed.”  Those wishing to stay longer in Debrecen may stay at the same rate as that negotiated for the conference.

Center of the city of Debrecen               University in Debrecen.
Center of the city of Debrecen and the building at the university where we will be meeting.

The maximum SSEC attendance (members and significant others) will be 40.  Jim Davis and I will send out a registration packet soon after January 1, 2010.  The registration DEADLINE will be April 15.  After that date rooms will no longer be held at the various hotels. We estimate that the registration fee will be $200 - $225 per person.  Participants will need to be prepared to pay for their hotel rooms and most meals.
 
With questions, e-mail Murry Nelson at mrn2@psu.edu
Click here to view photos from 2009 Conference held in Boulder, Colorado
 
 
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