Roberts recognizes Lowell Milken Center in the Congressional record

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., this week submitted a statement for the congressional record recognizing the efforts of the Lowell Milken Center in Fort Scott.

The statement coincided with the center's sixth annual National Project Kick-Off Day on Tuesday.

In his statement, Roberts praised the center for "continuing to pursue those often missed in history books and to promote cross-cultural understanding in the world. It is an honor to represent the Lowell Milken Center in the United States Senate."

Roberts visited the center this spring while on a statewide tour. He was impressed by the center's ingenuity, as well as the vision of founder and philanthropist Lowell Milken.

Milken's idea that students should seek out and emulate history's role model -- instead of movie stars and athletes -- was one that Roberts found novel and worthy of congressional honor, a news release said.

Roberts wrote the following about his time at the center in the congressional record:

"During my visit, I was able to meet the center's (executive director) Norm Conard and its program director, Megan Felt. Both are outstanding Kansans who have helped shape the way we approach history and learning. Ms. Felt has been honored nationally and internationally for her projects."

Conard said in the release that he's thrilled by the recognition.

"We strive to have a national and international impact," he said. "We appreciate Sen. Roberts' statement and hope he can visit the center again soon."

Beginning its sixth year, the Lowell Milken Center discovers, develops and communicates the stories of unsung heroes who have made a profound and positive difference on the course of history. Through student-driven project-based learning, people throughout America and the world learn that each of us has the responsibility and the power to take actions that "repair the world" by improving the lives of others, the release said.

These projects take the form of performances, documentaries, websites and exhibits, among other ideas. The center provides support ranging from project development to project critiques, primary research and interview assistance to kindergarten through 12th grade students and teachers, the release said.

Since its establishment, the Lowell Milken Center has reached more than 5,000 students and more than 575,000 schools in all 50 states, with involvement growing worldwide, the release said.

For more information, visit www.lowellmilkencenter.org.