Steven Koponen wins Milken Award

By Carol Anderson Focus Staff Writer

EMU alumnus Steven J. Koponen has joined a distinguished group among his peers. He was recently named a Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award winner; the 22nd EMU alum so honored.

Koponen, a math and English teacher at O.E. Dunckel Middle School in Farmington Hills, received the news at a surprise school assembly Oct. 18. "It's really overwhelming," said Koponen. "Normally you get rewarded every day in class, but this is a tidal wave of gratitude."

Koponen was one of only four teachers in Michigan to receive this award for teaching excellence. In 1993, he earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a major in math and a minor in English from EMU.
"The recognition of Mr. Koponen by the Milken Family Foundation is a wonderful tribute not only to him but to the EMU teacher preparation program," said Jerry Robbins, dean of EMU's College of Education. "He, along with 21 other EMU alums who have been identified for this award over the past few years, exemplifies Eastern's commitment to producing teachers who inspire their students to excel in school and to have a life-long desire to learn."

The award provides public recognition and financial rewards to America's elementary and secondary teachers, principals and other education professors and seeks to inspire young people to become teachers. Established in 1985, the program is the largest teacher recognition program in the United States. Philanthropist Michael Milken, Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, state superintendent Tom Watkins and other education officials presented the award to Koponen. He also received an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles in June 2002 where he will receive a $25,000 check.

"Koponen is a very unique individual. He's very resourceful, relates well with the kids and engages in very exciting, real-world activities with them," said James Myers, principal at Dunckel Middle School.

At Dunckel, Koponen is a member of the only multi-age teaching team in the school district. He and two other teachers teach 56 seventh- and eighth graders for two consecutive years in math, English, science and social studies. This teaching style allows eighth graders to review last year's material and seventh graders to encounter higher-level information.
According to Koponen, team teaching fosters strong relationships that develop between the teachers and students as well as among the students. When the freshmen enter high school, they already know a few of the sophomores and can more easily adapt to the new school.

Koponen serves as his building's mathematics department chair; was a member of the 2001 Michigan Association of Middle School Educators' Teaching Team of the Year; and was named a Farmington/WDIV Middle School Teacher of the Year in 1998. In addition to a bachelor's degree from EMU, Koponen earned a master's degree in math education from Wayne State University.

Echo article about Steve