Bessie B. Moore Service Award
On March 4, 2022, the National Association of Economic Educators awarded Ruth Cookson of Old Dominion University the 2021 Bessie B. Moore Service Award at their annual conference.
The award is designed to recognize individuals associated with NAEE/Council for Economic Education whose outstanding and dedicated service has had a significant impact on the delivery and enhancement of economic education. My work with the ODU Center for Economic Education from 2002 to 2020 was recognized as fulfilling the following criteria for the award:
- Active role in economic education programming.
- Innovative economic education program development.
- Enhancement of economic education through program delivery and service.
- Dedication and commitment to economic education.
- Continuing involvement and length of service in economic education.
Ms. Cookson was nominated in 2020 by members of the Virginia Council on Economic Education and received letters of support from Center directors and the Chief Program Officer of the national Council on Economic Education.
"In 2002, as a high school social studies teacher searching for a change, I was told that the Old Dominion University Center for Economic Education needed part time help. Walking into the Director of the Center, Martha Hofler's, office was the start of an amazing career, the best job I ever had, one that became a calling - the call to help fellow teachers in any way that I could.
My guiding force - what was always at the forefront of any work I did for the ODU Center for Economic Education - was to help make economics and personal finance fun, active, and relevant for today's students. What did that look like? For me, it was Quality professional development - providing training and lessons that were classroom ready, relevant, content appropriate - and always accompanied by snacks. During the early days of Covid, I worked hard to provide access and information to my teachers as we pivoted to something that was completely unfamiliar to so many of us in March 2020.
I am forever grateful to the Old Dominion University Strome College of Business, the steady guidance of my mentor and dear friend, retired Center Director Martha Hofler, my department Chair Chris Colburn, and Dean Jeff Tanner.
The Center's funding and my position ended in 2020, but my heart and my future will always be in economic education.
Thank you for this award. It is indeed my honor." Ruth Cookson
