Road Scholar/Elderhostel has announced the second annual Asa Grant Hilliard III Road Scholar Award for Lifelong Learning.  The 2009 Asa Grant Hilliard III Road Scholar Award for Lifelong Learning is now open to applicants and will be presented this year at the 2009 annual conference of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) to be held in November in Indianapolis, Ind.

Road Scholar awards this scholarship annually to an educator with at least 10 years of experience in education and who is a member of NABSE or a member of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH); or who is on the faculty of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU); or is a professor of African American studies.  The scholarship provides an opportunity to experience a Road Scholar or Elderhostel program anywhere in the world. 

The Asa Grant Hilliard Award III Road Scholar Award for Lifelong Learning is part of a national outreach initiative Elderhostel introduced to build awareness of its educational adventures in the African American community and to promote the benefits of learning through travel. Launched in 2004, Road Scholar is an initiative of Elderhostel, the world’s largest not-for-profit educational travel organization for adults.  For details on the award and to submit an application, visit www.roadscholar.org/hilliardaward.

Applicants are asked to write an essay focused on the significance of lifelong learning to the African American community and to describe the ways they will impact their communities with the knowledge from their learning and travel experience.

The $5,000 travel award is named in honor of the late Dr. Asa Grant Hilliard III, world-renowned Pan-Africanist, educator, historian and psychologist, who is an icon for his advocacy of the importance of African history, culture and influence; for his global contributions to education; and for his special affinity for conducting study tours to Egypt for thousands of travelers.

“The Asa Grant Hilliard III Award was created to honor the legacy of a man who was a lifelong learner — Dr. Hilliard promoted learning through travel in everything he did,” says James Moses, president and CEO of Elderhostel and Road Scholar. “We are pleased to recognize educators who have a longstanding commitment to their field and look forward to welcoming them on our Road Scholar adventures.”

Mrs. Patsy Jo Hilliard, widow and life partner of Dr. Hilliard, presented the 2008 award to Ms. Patricia Payne, director of the Indianapolis Public Schools’ Crispus Attucks Center.

For details on the award, visit  For details on the award and to submit an application, visit www.roadscholar.org/hilliardaward.

BlackCommentator.com Guest Commentator Kathy Taylor is associate vice president of community development for Road Scholar and oversees their initiative to build awareness in the African American community. Click here to contact Ms. Taylor and Road Scholar.