The Kurt Hahn Address - a Speech given by an Exceptional Experiential Educator
One cannot truly appreciate and understand the roots of experiential education, without studying the life and writings of Kurt Hahn (1886-1974). Hahn's personal experiences led him to make helping young people develop into healthy, happy, ethical and compassionate adults his life's calling. To that end, Hahn founded numerous colleges and programs dedicated to educating the whole person.

The Kurt Hahn Address is presented annually by a person designated by the Board of Directors who has contributed to the development and advancement of experiential education with the tenacity and conviction exemplified by Kurt Hahn. AEE is honored to announce the 2013 Kurt Hahn Address will be given by Laurie Frank.

Laurie Frank is a former public school teacher who has worked in the adventure and experiential education arenas for over 30 years.  She began her career as a special education teacher in emotional disabilities, working with students of all ages.  Her path diverged upon the discovery of adventure education and experiential methodologies.  The need to develop a sense of community within the school setting was apparent, and the adventure philosophy seemed the perfect vehicle to achieve that goal.

Laurie is the owner/director of GOAL Consulting, working with people of all ages to create environments where everyone is invited into the process of working and learning together.  Her major focuses are community building, collaborative leadership, experiential education, and Appreciative Inquiry.  Workshops with Laurie invite engagement by constructing knowledge through experience and exploration.

Ms. Frank was a leader in designing the nationally recognized Stress/Challenge adventure program for Madison (Wisconsin) Metropolitan School District, and wrote their curriculum, “Adventure in the Classroom,” in 1988. Ms. Frank wrote Journey Toward the Caring Classroom (2004, 2nd ed. 2013), an experiential approach to creating a sense of community in schools. She also collaborated on four other books: Games (& Other Stuff) for Teachers (1999), Adventure Education for the Classroom Community (2000, Revised 2007), The Mohican People, Their Lives and Their Lands (2008), and Leading Together: Foundations of Collaborative Leadership  (2008).

Laurie’s passion is to facilitate human interaction, and to create environments where everyone is empowered.  A few of her projects include: YEP (Youth Empowerment Process), Inquiry Institute with the Chicago Teacher’s Center, and Collaborative Leadership: a project of the Wisconsin Leadership Institute.  She currently serves on the boards of the Hancock Center for Dance/Movement Therapy, The United World College-Costa Rica and UWC Council, Students Abroad for Global Education (SAGE), and Recovery Acceleration then Competence and Excellence (R.A.C.E.) Academies.

2012 - Jasper Hunt

2011 - Denise Mitten

2010 - Jude Hirsch & Lee Gillis

2009 - Cliff Knapp

2008 - Bob Henderson

2007 - Nina Roberts

2006 - Peter Higgins

2005 - Keith V. King

2004 - Sanford Tollette

2003 - Craig Dobkin

2002 - Michael Gass

2001 - Faith Evans

2000 - Karl Rohnke

1999 - Marianne Scippa

1998 - Rita Yerkes

1997 - Dan Garvey

1996 - Tom Smith

1995 - McClellan Hall

1994 - Robert S. MacArthur

1993 - Dick Kraft

1992 - Bert Horwood

1991 - Dan Conrad for Diane Hedin

1990 - Gregory Farrell

1989 - Richard O. Kimball

1988 - Jim Kielsmeier

1987 - Betty van der Smissen

1986 - Alec Dickson

1985 - Jolene Unsoeld for Willi Unsoeld

1984 - Eliot Wigginton

1983 - Joe Nold

The Board of Directors, rather than the conference Host Committee or the Awards Committee, reviews the list of possible candidates (along with brief biographies) for the Kurt Hahn Address with the knowledge of the annual theme that has been selected for the topic of the address. 
1. Any four board members can add a person to the list of possible candidates with submission of the Nomination Form and Nomination Form Additional Information form if necessary.

2. An AEE member can suggest a person to be added to the list of potential candidates by completing Nomination Form and Nomination Form Additional Information form and delivering this form to a current board member.