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Journeys

In my 25 years with Econ Illinois at NIU, I have seen some amazing changes! The Stock Market Game program in Illinois grew from 475 student teams in the fall of 1988 to over 5000 teams in the spring of 2012! The Economics Poster contest saw 250 student entries in its first year as a statewide program, 1992.  For the 2012 competition, 3645 Illinois students drew economic concepts! And the Econ Illinois web site completed the third site revision last fall! 

Econ Illinois has joined the social networking circle, providing different avenues for Illinois educators to learn more about how we can help them teach. What a journey we have had! The organization is in good hands, and with the continuing support of our Boards and funders, will continue to bring financial and economic education programs and resources to teachers of grades K-12.

When I graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in HPER - Health, Physical Education and Recreation, I never imagined I would eventually find a career helping teachers teach economics! I just assumed I would always be a PE teacher! My journey from there to here has been interesting, to say the least!

My most fond memories include the awards events at which we recognized teachers and students for outstanding work. It's really fabulous when an entire student body of upper elementary students cheers when one of their peers has won a pizza party for their classroom! And it's even more fabulous to see how a teacher can gather their own peers, parents, administration and a community to make those events happen - all while managing all the other things that come with being a teacher. We have been fortunate to be a part of several such events over these last few years, and I will remember every one of them!

So, where to next? Lyle and I hope our journeys take us to places we haven't been, and back to those places we loved in previous travels - some of those locations by way of our fabulous new RV (above, in Joshua Tree National Monument!) Alaska, Hawaii (again) and as many U.S. National Parks as possible; writers Patterson, Cornwell, Grisham and Cussler; children & grandchildren; visiting a son in St Cloud Florida in a month OTHER THAN JULY or AUGUST!

It's been a fast 25 years. I look forward to the next 25 and doing all the things yet undone! I wish you all success and joy as you go forward in YOUR journey! As they say in Maui, "Hang Loose!"

Marty