Cherokee Heights Middle School Principal Karen Seno will receive the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Equal Opportunity Award from the Urban League of Greater Madison.

"The Urban League is honored to recognize Ms. Seno for her lifetime of work ensuring that all students have the educational opportunities that will allow them to realize their dreams and aspirations," explained Urban League Chairman of the Board Derrell Connor.

Remaining text is from Urban League's news release.

Following an achievement gap analysis completed in August 2006 by Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services, Cherokee Middle School was recognized as one of only 18 Wisconsin schools that had significantly narrowed the racial achievement gap.

"It is difficult to narrow achievement gaps," noted Thomas Sheridan, vice president of Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services. "This analysis shows that there are a number of schools that have made outstanding progress. Their practice should be more closely examined to illuminate the strategies that can be implemented by educators in other parts of Wisconsin who are working hard to raise the performance of all students." (Capital Times, 8/31/06)

Seno has also been a strong advocate for community involvement at her school, including working closely with many of the Urban League's College Readiness and Career Development Programs such as Schools of Hope, Project REACH, and the 100-Hour Youth Volunteer Challenge.

Cherokee has also consistently been a leader in the number of students earning the Urban League's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Outstanding Young Person Award.

The award is given annually by Boards of Directors of Urban League affiliates from across the country in memory of the great civil rights leader and former head of the National Urban League.