BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – An Upshur County educator and West Virginia Wesleyan College graduate is the first Lowell Milken Center Fellow from West Virginia. The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in  Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit,  awarded its prestigious  Fellowship to Brian Allman ‘07, former Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School social studies teacher and current principal of  Rock Cave Elementary School.

The LMC Fellowship is a merit-based award for educators of all disciplines who value the  importance of teaching respect and understanding through project-based learning. The Center  selects exemplary teachers from the United States and around the world who will collaborate on  projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history. 

“This fellowship will give me the opportunity to empower students through a project based learning experience while simultaneously shining a spotlight on the lives of unsung heroes from around the world,” Allman said. “ I also had the opportunity to network  with exemplary educators from across the United States. Representing West Virginia as the first LMC Fellow from our state is an honor and one that I’ll strive to do to the best of my abilities.”

Allman is a nationally recognized public school teacher and administrator.  In 2019, Allman was recognized with West Virginia’s Milken  Educator Award also known as the “Oscars of Teaching.” He  was also selected as a  member of the West Virginia State Journal Generation Next: 40 under 40 and received the Young Alumni Achievement Award at West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2020. Allman is a  member of the West Virginia State Superintendent’s Education Advisory Team, iCivics National  Educator Network, and National Constitution Center Teacher Advisory Council. He is also a  Retro Report Teacher Ambassador and an executive board member of the West Virginia Council  for Social Studies. Allman participates on the West Virginia Courts Learning Center Education  committee, does consulting work for Teacher Created Materials, and has served on several other  statewide task forces and committees in partnership with the West Virginia Department of  Education. 

Allman builds relationships with students, challenging them to set and exceed their own academic  and personal goals. Students look to him for guidance long after leaving his classroom and  school. He earned a bachelor’s in secondary education in 2007 from West Virginia Wesleyan  College and a master’s in educational leadership in 2015 from Marshall University.

Allman said, “ West Virginia Wesleyan College provided me with a high quality education that has led me down a path of success in my profession. Without that college experience, none of these accomplishments would be possible. Our College has a history of producing exemplary educators who in turn use the skills that were sharpened on campus when educating students. Tomorrow’s leaders are sitting in today’s classrooms and I have the ability to position them for future success due to my Wesleyan experience.”

While in Fort Scott, LMC Fellows gain knowledge, educational resources and support in helping  students cultivate a passion for learning through the creation of projects that initiate positive  change. Fellows will be equipped to develop Unsung Heroes projects with their students,  applying and evaluating the stories of these role models who have changed the world  throughout history.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan one of its 2022 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan a “Top 20” Best Value – Regional Universities (South) and one of the “Top 75” Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.