Congratulations to the 2011-2012 Heart of the Apple Winners!
The “Heart of the Apple” award recognizes those who have made a significant collective impact on education in our community. The Education Foundation of Collier County is pleased to announce that the winners of the second annual 
Heart of the Apple award will be presented to Herb and Ann Rowe who have been passionate about education, especially science, their whole lives. Their commitment to sharing the love of learning with young people is contagious.
The Rowes are dedicated to helping teachers ensure that every child can get a good education. They have been pioneers in raising the science and technology standards in our schools and providing opportunities for students to learn from real life experiences. Herb and Anne have done this through thousands of volunteer hours and financial support of classroom grants through The Education Foundation’s Connect with a Classroom Program and their involvement with the English-Speaking Union.
Herb and Ann are originally from Chicago and also lived in Washington, DC where Herb served as NASA Associate Administrator for External Affairs. Among his responsibilities were liaison with Congress, the White House, Industry and the Education community. He also is the former CEO of Jensen Speakers. Their passion for learning transcends borders and they are avid travelers — Machu Picchu, Mongolia, India, Antarctica to watch the penguins, and last summer were invited to England to attend the royal wedding. In their home, an enormous world map is dotted with red push pins marking their travels.
The Rowes have always ingrained in their four children, Stephen, Doug, Edie and Jim, a love of reading and value for education. Their daughter, Edie remarked, “As I had children, I tried to instill the love for education that my parents had. We snuggled and read, visited museums and tried to make learning a lifelong love both in and out of the classroom.”
Ann and Herb have been involved in several science programs, investing time and funding for special projects. The JASON Project connects students with scientists and researchers from all over the world using video conferencing and live webcasts to provide interactive science learning experiences.
The NASA Explorer Schools Project partnered Pine Ridge Middle School and Immokalee Middle School on the hovercraft project that flew on the reduced gravity test plane in Houston. This is the same plane in which NASA trains astronauts for reduced gravity in space. Students also got to talk with the International Space Station, once via HAM radio, the other was a video conference.
Another project paired the students from the Gulf Coast High School Green Club with students of Oakridge Middle School. The high school students lead them in an experiment that converted light into energy that powered toy cars which the students raced across the room.
Curt Witthoff, Coordinator of Science & Environmental Education for Collier schools remarked, “Ann has been a very positive voice in our community. She helped educate our community about the exciting things happening with the science education of our children.”
The Rowes are also very active in The English-Speaking Union which strives to improve communication and understanding through the use of the English language. For the past ten years, the ESU has funded over $55,000 in classroom grants. Herb and Ann Rowe are active members and helped to initiate their original support. The English-Speaking Union also provides the Summer School Abroad scholarship for teachers at their choice of either Oxford University or The Globe Theater in London.
Countless students and teachers have benefited from the dedication and generosity of Ann and Herb Rowe. They are true leaders in “Getting On the Bus”!
