Spotlight 4 Success

From Exercise Science to Civic Leadership

• American Book Company

Share episode

Curious about what happens when a kinesiology expert makes a career leap into civic education? Meet Oliver Alwes, a financial officer and program manager at the Madison Foundation, who is transforming the landscape of social studies education in Georgia. Oliver's journey from exercise science to influencing how students and teachers engage with civic education is as unexpected as it is inspiring. We explore how his passion for improving civic knowledge led to the creation of fellowships that support educators in pursuing master's degrees in constitutional studies. Oliver dives into the significance of place-based learning and how it shapes a richer understanding of democratic principles.

Devin Pintozzi:

This podcast, Spotlight for Success, is our way of highlighting the incredible success stories happening to education right here in our home state of Georgia. Today, we're thrilled to be joined by Oliver Alwes of the Madison Foundation, who has made a significant impact in the field of social studies education. We'll explore his journey, insights and positive changes he's creating for students and teachers. So let's get started. Oliver, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Oliver Alwes:

Sure. I work as a financial officer, program manager for the Madison Foundation and I actually started. It was quite a career 180 for me. I have a degree in kinesiology, exercise science and my boss well, former boss, he just retired, but Lewis Larson, he was a client at my gym and he just asked me out of the blue if I wanted a job in federal government. And I, you know you can't pass up an opportunity like that. So I mean, that's all she wrote. I came on board back in 2018. It's been six years since and great environment, great team and it's a unique story to be able to share. It's almost like a -- to share. It's pretty neat. It's just a complete career transition for me and it's been fantastic in that regard. But I I am a bit of a political junkie, so, like, having that uh interest does help when trying to understand like how this organization in particular benefits people, especially students and teachers. I mean doing something that we that really needs to happen in this country is improving civic education.

Devin Pintozzi:

Wonderful, and so we'll kind of speak around about this because there's so many elements of what you're doing here. So I know one of the big emphasis here at the Georgia Council of Social Studies is that we're speaking. One of the emphasis here is some place-based learning. That we're speaking, one of the emphasis here is some place-based learning, and in this case, with the fellowship program that you're offering here at the conference, it's an opportunity for educators to do place-based learning. Am I correct?

Oliver Alwes:

Yeah, absolutely. We came here because we want Georgia educators to apply to this program, because we offer fellowships of up to $24,000 for you to earn your master's degree.

Devin Pintozzi:

That's amazing.

Oliver Alwes:

Studying the Constitution and, you know, teaching your students about it ultimately. So, yeah, place-based learning absolutely.

Devin Pintozzi:

Are these fellowships? Where are they done?

Oliver Alwes:

So you apply through our website james. madison. gov

Devin Pintozzi:

Okay, great.

Oliver Alwes:

And we award for one. Generally try to do one applicant per state, so one applicant in. Georgia. So you're competing against everybody in the state of Georgia for the fellowship not nationally with everyone involved, and you can select any university program that you would like, as long as it's in a constitutional-based topic like history, government, political science, and, yeah, it could be at a Georgia university.

Devin Pintozzi:

Wow, that's wonderful, that's great. What a great opportunity for Georgia educators that you're offering here at the conference and to allow them to put in an application and compete to have a fellowship that would lead to a graduate degree, whether that's, I guess, a master's or a doctoral program.

Oliver Alwes:

Only a master's.

Devin Pintozzi:

Master's program.

Oliver Alwes:

Yep.

Devin Pintozzi:

That is wonderful. What a great opportunity by the James Madison Foundation. I wanted to ask, so tell us a little bit about the contribution that James Madison had for this country, in case there's a refresher.

Oliver Alwes:

Sure, he's known commonly as the father of the Constitution. He was a major player at the Constitutional Convention and set forth a number of important principles that we follow today and I'm quite a journeyman in terms of explaining it, but he had a tremendous impact on just the concept of democracy and having a republic and things that we hold dear today the traditions of why this is such a great country.

Devin Pintozzi:

Wonderful.

Oliver Alwes:

He was there with all the big names that you talked about George Washington well, Thomas Jefferson wasn't there, but you know they're talked about in the same breath and Alexander Hamilton and, yeah, he's certainly definitely an underrated figure in that regard Wonderful.

Devin Pintozzi:

I'm glad you're doing this work and I'm glad you're here at GCSS Again, oliver, it was great speaking with you Again. This is brought to you by ABC Spotlight for Success here at the Georgia Council for Social Studies. Thank you, oliver, for your time today.

Oliver Alwes:

Thank you, I appreciate it.

Devin Pintozzi:

Bye-bye.