St. Andrew's Priory third-grade teacher Judy Ezra helped Shanel Moore, 8, during a computer class in 2005. Ezra was recognized for the Best Project using Kidspiration, visual learning software for K-5 learners. She is one of 30 educators from around the world who will receive the 2007 Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Ezra was recognized for the Best Project using Kidspiration, visual learning software for K-5 learners. Her third grade students used the program to brainstorm and plan the school's first podcast about ancient Egyptians, a recent unit of study.

The scholarships were announced Tuesday by Inspiration Software.

In its ninth consecutive year, the scholarship program supports technology purchases and professional development activities for educators who champion the integration of visual learning and technology into the curriculum.

Scholarship recipients use the $750 scholarships for classroom technology purchases and a wide range of professional development activities, including attendance at a conference, training event or professional education course where visual learning is a key topic.

For the first year, three educators were awarded scholarships for "Best Projects." Teachers who win the Best Project awards can use the $750 to purchase hardware or software for their classrooms or schools. Ezra is one of the recipients. The other winners are John Minelli, Hartford Memorial Middle School, White River Junction, Vt., who was honored for the Best Project using Inspiration®, the essential tool for students in grades 6 to adult to visualize, think, organize and learn. Under Minelli's leadership as technology specialist, sixth graders used Inspiration to plan and develop a presentation to help rising fifth graders make the transition to middle school. The other recipient is Will Bohrnsen, Groves Academy, St. Louis Park, Minn., who earned a scholarship for the Best Project using InspireData™, the new tool to visualize, investigate and understand data. High school juniors and seniors in Bohrnsen's project-based science classes used InspireData to analyze data gathered from collected samples of water and invertebrate life from several Minnesotan lakes and streams.

This year, 22 individuals received Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning, honoring them for championing the use of visual learning and technology to support instruction. The 2007 scholarship recipients:

Robin Bartoletti, Northeastern State University, Broken Arrow, Okla.

Jennifer Blair, West Memorial Junior High in Katy, Texas

Jane Bratton, Ringgold Elementary School, Clarksville, Tenn.

Jennifer Creason, Lewis Elementary School, Excelsior Springs, Mo.

Mark Ellis, Newent Community School, Newent, United Kingdom

Soraya Faculo, Cordillera Regional Science High School, La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines

Grant Gerald, Franklinton High School, Franklinton, La.

Lina Halabi, American Community School at Beirut, Lebanon

Virginia Irvin, Joe Walker Middle School, Lancaster, Calif.

Katie Knapp, Windsor Oaks Elementary School, Virginia Beach, Va.

Lisa Kosin, Westmont Junior High in Westmont, Ill.

Ingrid Maadvere, Lasnamae Kindergarten Elementary School, Tallinn, Estonia

Michelle Moore, Park International Baccalaureate Magnet School, Hot Springs, Ark.

Jock Murley, Otago Girls High School, Dunedin, New Zealand

Kay Panamarenko, Academy @ Hays Trail, Buda, Texas

Rebecca Riberich, McMurray Elementary School, McMurray, Pa.

Gina Roughton, Cambridgeport School, Cambridge, Mass.

Andrea Salerno, Holy Rosary Catholic School, Rosenberg, Texas

Aldo Anzures Tapia, Cuicuilco Primary School, Mexico City, Mexico

Jean Van Vliet, St. Thomas the Apostle School, Bloomfield, N.J.

Eileen Watson, Rosarian Academy, West Palm Beach, Fla.

David Williams, Burford School, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

For the third year, the scholarship program also recognized five educators who are new to visual learning, and demonstrate a desire and capacity to learn and apply visual learning techniques in their classrooms, with Inspired Teacher Scholarship Rookie Awards. The 2007 Inspired Teacher Scholarship Rookie Award recipients are:

Paulina Lecanda Álvarez, Escuela Primaria, Mexico City, Mexico

Michele Futch, Blountstown Middle School, Blountstown, Fla.

Joe Green, Pope High School, Marietta, Ga.

Telannia Norfar, ASTEC Charter High School, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Brian Stamford, Gateway School District, Monroeville, Pa.

Educators from K-12 schools, colleges and universities are eligible to apply for the Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning. A minimum of one year of service is required, and applicants must demonstrate that they have direct contact with students. Inspiration Software has awarded scholarships to more than 180 educators over the past nine years.