Orlando Science Center named finalist for national honor
Orlando Science Center has been tabbed as a finalist for the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It is considered the highest honor in the field.
The science center was a finalist in 2017, 2018 and 2019. National Medals were not awarded in 2020.
“The 2021 finalists are such an impressive group, and we are so humbled by this nomination,” said JoAnn Newman, president and CEO of Orlando Science Center. “This recognition acknowledges the critical role we’ve played in our community’s STEM learning for over 65 years, but it also reminds us that we still have so much important work ahead to help our community grow and prosper.”
In a news release, Orlando Science Center said it had made it a priority “to develop relevant and impactful STEM-based opportunities that are accessible to every child regardless of ability, gender, race or socioeconomic status.” Other notable achievements were virtual-learning activities during the pandemic, the continuation of $25 family memberships for low-income households and in-person and virtual summer camps for 2,000 students.
There are 30 finalists, divided equally between libraries and museums. Winners will be announced in May. In recent years, the group has picked 10 National Medal recipients.
Among the honorees in 2019 was the Historical Society of Central Florida, which supports the missions and programs of the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando. In 2018, the Orange County Library System received a National Medal.
“The revival and reinstitution of the
National Medals by IMLS is another signal of recovery and renewal in the nation’s very challenging — but very hopeful — times,” IMLS Director Crosby Kemper said. “We are celebrating not only the ongoing excellence of the best of our museums and libraries, but their extraordinary efforts through the pandemic, the recession, the racial-justice protests and national divisions to serve, heal and bring together our communities.”
Orlando Science Center is the only Florida institution among the finalists. For a full list of National Medal finalists, go to imls.gov.