Voyager Co-Founder Receives Award From Naval Academy Alumni Association

Voyager Expanded Learning co-founder Admiral Thomas B. Hayward and three other Naval Academy graduates will be honored with the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association's Distinguished Graduate Award on March 30, 2007. The award honors living graduates of the Naval Academy who have provided a lifetime of service to the nation or U.S. Armed Forces, have made significant distinguished contributions to the nation via their public service, and have demonstrated a strong interest in supporting the Navy, Marine Corps and the United States Naval Academy.

Admiral Hayward co-founded Voyager Expanded Learning in 1994 and was the catalyst to building Voyager into a mission-driven company dedicated to making a difference for millions of children in reading. He remains the guardian of Voyager's commitment to quality educational programs and services that provide unprecedented results for historically low-performing students, schools and districts. Last year, Voyager created the Founder's Award in his honor to recognize educators who, through the implementation of Voyager programs in their districts, demonstrate leadership in winning the battle to achieve unprecedented, measurable gains in moving low-performing students and schools to standard, and substantially closing the achievement gap.

A graduate of the Naval Academy's Class of 1948, Admiral Hayward is renowned throughout the Navy and the nation for his leadership in times of war and peace. The Admiral's career evolved from Midshipman to Chief of Naval Operations -- the Navy's senior officer. As a combat fighter pilot he flew extensively in both Korea and Vietnam. Following command of the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA he subsequently served as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Seventh Fleet and U.S. Pacific Fleet. As Chief of Naval Operations, his priorities were emphasizing pride and professionalism, strengthening fleet readiness, and instituting a maritime strategy specifically targeted against the growing Soviet naval modernization.