Champion of Opportunity Award

General Information
The University of Kansas EOP Champion of Opportunity Award is presented to individuals and/or entities whose accomplishments and professional contributions to the KU Educational Opportunity Programs have been outstanding.

Sheila Blume is announced as the 2007 winner of the EOP Champion of Opportunity Award

Mrs. Shelia Blume has been instrumental in GEAR UP’s success at F.L. Schlagle High School.  She has continuously informed GEAR UP staff of many changes in USD 500 policies and practices with regard to district resources, student activities, teacher relationships, and assessments and benchmarks.  Because of her efforts, GEAR UP staff members are able to focus on grant objectives, while remaining aware of changes at the district and building level.  Such communication and information sharing has proven invaluable.

Sheila Blume, Champion of Opportunity Award recipient, is shown with Paul Trana and Dr. Robert Rodriguez.


Mrs. Blume has provided a generous amount of space, in the form of an office room and a break room, adjacent to the Schlagle High School Library in which GEAR UP staff may organize materials, grade assignments, hold meetings, and generally coordinate grant activities.  Her efforts include completing the necessary district forms to authorize GEAR UP’s use of the Schlagle High School library on a weekly basis throughout the year for Wednesday Workshop programming with students.  Additionally, Mrs. Blume has offered the use of her library and associated space to other University of Kansas Educational Opportunity Programs such as Upward Bound, Math and Science, and Educational Talent Search to use for their tutoring and mentoring services.  According to GEAR UP Site Coordinator, Rebecca Williams, “before Mrs. Blume began at F.L. Schlagle, we had no space allocated in order to store materials or to meet.  She has been most helpful.”  Also, Mrs. Blume allows GEAR UP staff to use computers and audio-visual materials, distributes materials to GEAR UP students, provides space for student materials, answers questions from teachers, and directs visitors to GEAR UP staff in the building.  Finally, Mrs. Blume directed the KCK INFOKIDS federal program, serving 15 schools, as part of the No Child Left Behind Act and has served three schools in USD 500.
 
Mrs. Blume has spent a portion of her library’s budget for materials, such as career exploration manuals and ACT preparation guides, that will directly assist GEAR UP and other low-income, first generation college students in preparing for careers, applying to colleges, and researching scholarships.  Further, she developed an area of the library dedicated to career exploration, college searches, and finding sources of financial aid.  For her generosity of time and energy, and for the reasons listed above, the KU Schlagle GEAR UP staff members believe that Shelia Blume should receive the Educational Opportunity Programs Champion of Opportunity Award.

 Highlights of Other Contributions

• Directed the KCK INFOKIDS federal program, serving 15 schools, as part of the No Child Left Behind Act
• Currently serves as Library Media Specialist at Schlagle High School in Kansas City, Kansas
• Provides office and meeting space in the library for numerous KU EOP Programs for student, teacher, administrator, and staff meetings
• Developed a “College Knowledge” section of the Schlagle High School Library for all USD 500 students
• Previously served as Library Media Specialist for Grant and Stony Point North Elementary Schools in Kansas City, Kansas
• Taught Speech I and other classes for Cloud County Community College Outreach Program
• Currently teaches the following classes for the Fort Hays State University master’s program in Library Science:  Access Organization, Program Administration of the Library Media Center, Center Administration of the Library Media Center
• Serving as a member of the Kansas Reading Circle sponsored by KNEA
• School Library Media Specialist representative on the Kansas Library

Past member and current member of the Kansas State Reading Circle committee for KNEA

• Member of the advisory panel for Groliers Educational Media at ALA National Convention
• Member of AASL national committee of teacher and administrator competency and the ABC-CLIO AASL Award Committee
• On the KLA executive council as National Library Week Chair for the State of Kansas
• Editor of the 1991 and 1992 National Library Week booklet for Kansas as published by the State Library
• Member of the Grant Revision Committee for the Central Kansas Library System
• Member of the Advisory Board for Kansas Association of Scholars Bowl coaches
• Organizer and host for six regional Scholars’ Bowl competitions for KSHSAA, as well as for local League academic competitions
• Presenter at the Kansas Association of Scholars’ Bowls Coaches convention and workshop in 1990
• Volunteer for the Hospice FUN-D Committee