The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education will be awarded on Nov. 13 to four innovators whose work spans early childhood learning, university reform and lifelong STEM outreach.
Innovators from Africa, New York and Ohio are being honored.
Early‑learning innovators bring tablets to Africa’s most remote classrooms
Rapelang Rabana and Joe Wolf, co‑CEOs of Imagine Worldwide, share the Pre‑K‑12 Education prize. Their company supplies solar‑powered tablets that run offline, giving children without electricity or internet access a personalized literacy and numeracy experience. The devices are built around evidence‑based curricula that have been tested in nine randomized controlled trials across several African nations. Results show measurable gains in reading and math scores, even when teachers are not present.
Imagine’s approach relies on partnerships with local governments and community groups, allowing the program to scale quickly. By embedding the technology within existing school structures, the organization sidesteps many of the logistical hurdles that typically stall educational tech deployments. The impact, according to the award announcement, reaches “the most marginalized children.”
Higher‑education champion pushes for equity and digital literacy
Dr. Cathy N. Davidson, a Distinguished Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center, receives the Higher Education prize. Her career has focused on redesigning university curricula to align with digital skills demands and to broaden access for underrepresented students. Davidson founded the Futures Initiative, which works across CUNY’s 26 campuses to embed student‑centered learning and career‑connected pathways.
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Beyond campus work, she advises the CUNY Chancellor on transformation strategies, emphasizing data‑driven decision making and inclusive policy. Her efforts echo the prize’s emphasis on “bold thinking” and “equity‑driven practice,” though some observers note that scaling such reforms beyond a single system remains a challenge.
STEM museum director expands science learning beyond museum walls
Dr. Frederic Bertley, president and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio, is honored with the Lifelong Learning prize. Under his leadership, COSI has grown into a hub that reaches learners through interactive exhibits, outreach programs, and award‑winning media content. The museum’s initiatives include hands‑on workshops and virtual experiences that aim to spark curiosity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Bertley’s work shows that education does not end at graduation. By leveraging both physical and digital platforms, COSI extends its influence far beyond the museum’s walls, aligning with the prize’s focus on lifelong learning.
These three award categories illustrate the breadth of the McGraw Prize’s mission: to spotlight educators who are reshaping how knowledge is delivered, whether to a child in a rural village, a college student using offline digital resources, or an adult seeking new scientific insights. The prize, administered by the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, has a four‑decade history of recognizing such contributions.
The award highlights individual achievements and reflects a larger trend toward technology‑enabled, evidence‑based education solutions. Schools and institutions are increasingly turning to data and scalable tools to address persistent gaps in learning outcomes. This shift is reflected in the winners’ emphasis on rigorous testing, community collaboration, and adaptability across diverse contexts.
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From a broader perspective, the recognition of these innovators signals a growing acceptance that traditional classroom models must evolve to meet 21st‑century demands. The integration of offline digital resources, university‑wide equity initiatives, and museum‑based STEM outreach suggests that education stakeholders are seeking varied pathways to improve access and quality. As policymakers and funders watch these developments, the prize may influence future investment decisions, encouraging more projects that combine research, technology and community engagement.
Harold McGraw III, former chairman of The McGraw‑Hill Companies, praised the winners for “highly innovative approaches to learning with results that transform lives.” L. Michael Golden, vice dean at Penn GSE, added that the honorees are “redefining how learning happens, redefining who gets to learn.” Both statements reinforce the prize’s long‑standing goal of honoring those who push the boundaries of what’s possible in education.
The ceremony will award each recipient $50,000 and an iconic sculpture, marking the culmination of a nomination process that involved peer submissions and multiple rounds of judging by an independent panel. Past laureates have included teachers, university presidents and nonprofit leaders, illustrating the prize’s wide‑reaching impact across the education sector.
For additional details about the prize and its history, see the Wikipedia entry. The award ceremony is scheduled for November 13, with the McGraw Family Foundation and Penn GSE continuing to support programming for past and future winners.
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