American Serb History 101

Don't ever forget who your grandfather was.....

Milana ("Mim") Karlo Bizic earned a B.S. degree in three (3) years from the University of Pittsburgh where she had a four-year scholarship; a Master's Degree in 1967; School Library Certification in 1970; and Gifted and Talented Certification in 1981. Her professional experience includes teaching all Elementary grade level students K-6;  Teaching Graduate level courses for Penn State University (Beaver Campus for nine years until 1994), Carlow College and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, where she taught fellow educators how to creatively integrate computers into their curriculums across all disciplines and all grade levels, K-12; working as a Supervisor of Student Teachers for the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) after she retired from working 40+ years teaching in the public schools, most notably for Quaker Valley School District.

Mim has served as an Educational Consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Apple Computer Co, Scholastic Magazine, and the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.  A national presenter for the U.S. Patent Office, Mim has shared her creative and inventive thinking skills expertise with teachers from Portland, OR to Toldeo, OH.  She did similar work with the INVENT AMERICA! foundation, reaching out to teachers in Chicago and Washington. She's been a Co-Keynote Speaker for the Ben Franklin Computer Conference held at Carnegie-Mellon University and the Computer Using Educators (CUE) of Delaware.

Apple Computer Co. and Modern Pictures Services asked Mim to use her creativity and computer technological know-how to write lesson plans in workshops held in Cape Cod, Massachusetts; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Maui, Hawaii.

Bizic helped write the educational resource handbook for the permanent Smithsonian exhibit, "Beyond the Limits, Flight Enters the Computer Age." She wrote lesson plans on Clean Coal Technology for the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center.

She was a member of the National Advisory Board of Scholastic Inc.'s TEACHING AND COMPUTERS

She piloted several programs for the University of Pittsburgh's Regional Computer Resource Center, including the popular "Voyage of the MIMI" series.

Mim and her students won numerous awards, including First Place National Awards for Apple Computer Co. 1985 (Ancient Egypt); 1986 (Ancient Greece and Rome); and 1987 (Space) before being placed in the Apple Hall of Fame, and then again in 1989, with a unit on Women's History, that also garnered a First Place State Award from the Pennsylvania Commission for Women's "Women's History Month Contest."

She and her students traveled to Harrisburg to receive their N.E.E.D. (National Energy Education Day Award for the state-level contest.

Mrs. Bizic led her school to a national bin the FIRST "National Computer Learning Month" contest in 1988.

Her students also won a First-Place Regional and Third-Place State Award in the U.S.Bicentennial Map Contest in 1991.

On Saturday, October 13, 1984, Mim was honored by the American Legion Post # 4 at the Charles "Bud" Merriman dinner, receiving the Legion's FIRST "Special Award of Merit " for "her diligent work with the students on the elementary level in teaching democracy and patriotism."

Mim was named "Woman of the Year" in 1987 by the Sewickley HERALD, recognized for her many achievements on behalf of the children of the Valley.

In May,1988, she won the Judge's Choice Award sponsored by the Boston Apple Fest, and traveled to Boston to accept the great honor on behalf of her hard-working students.

She also earned an "Excellence in Teaching" Award from the PA Assoc. of Gifted Education in 1989.

In August of 1990, she was a Grand Prize Co-Winner with Dr. Merle Marsh of Delaware, for the FIRST "Johnny Appleseed National Awards Contest, sponsored by the Computer Users for Social Responsibility and the Macintosh Users Group (MUG) News Service.

Mrs. Bizic was named the National Honoree for the Smithsonian's ASTC Award (Association of Science and Technology Centers) for National Technology Week in 1989.

She was named a First Place Honoree for the FIRST "Thanks to Teachers" contest sponsored by Group W Broadcasting (KDKA), Westinghouse, Pitt, NFIE and NAB in June, 1990, the first year of the Award.
 
Bizic was appointed a panel member to U.S. Congressman Rick Santorum's "18th Congressional District's Schools of Excellence Recognition Program" in 1991-1992.

She served as a panelist in Washington, DC for a conference sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1992 after winning an appointment for the Elementary Teacher Research Internship (ETRI) in 1991.

Mim earned a scholarship award on Fossil Energy at LaRoche College (1992) and a Science Funding Proposal Grant from the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (SACP) and the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh (SSP) 1992.

She was listed in the "Who's Who in American Teaching" of 1992, nominated for the award in the first year of the award by senior high school student, Melissa Barrick.

During the 1992-93 school year, Mim was a "Piloteer" on the INTERNET for the PA Department of Education, where she successfully had Sewickley teachers and students conducting scientific experiments, sharing poems and plays with students throughout the USA and the rest of the world community.

Her Internet travels led to her being named as an Educational Ambassador for the state of Pennsylvania to the city of Omija, Japan, in 1993.

Mim was named to Marquis' "Who's Who of American Women," in January, 1995.

In June of `95, Mim was selected as one of twenty recipients of a five week National Endowment for the Humanities Grant entitled "Japanese Culture Through Literature."

June '96 found Mim accepting a CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR LEADERSHIP from the PA School Librarians Association for her roll in helping to bring the World Wide Web to the Sewickley community.

 In 1997, she and fellow innovators, Dr. Robert Fusco and Dr. Joseph Marrone, along with the SNET Board of Directors, accepted a “CITIZEN OF THE YEAR” award from the Sewickley HERALD for SewickleyNET, the community's first official presence on the WWW.

Mim has spoken to various groups and clubs across the nation on Molas (folk art of the Kuna Indians of San Blas Islands, Panama), Love Tokens from the Victorian Era, and Hobo Nickels. She has had mola displays in museums in PA, OH, and WV.

She led a group of PA residents to Iptingen, Germany, birthplace of Fr. Rapp from the Old Economy Museum Site in Ambridge, PA, when she served on the Board of the Harmonie Associates.

Bizic has traveled extensively in other countries throughout Europe (England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, all of the old Yugoslavia, Finland), Mexico, Russia in 1999, and Greece, Egypt, Israel and Turkey in 2000, Ireland and China in 2004 and a tour of Serbian Monasteries in 2006, including her 3rd trip to Kosovo, and again (4) to Kosovo in 2008 with the Kosovo Men's Choir of Eastern Ohio.  In 2007, sister Rose treated her two sisters to a trip to Viet Nam, where Rose worked as Director of the Red Cross in 1966-67 and again in 1969-70.  Brunei, Sanya China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Phillipines were also a part of the 2007 journey. Italy, Spain, France were highlighted once again in 2011. Many other International trips followed, so that much of Europe and Canada as well as the USA were covered. A favorite travel was being on Prajani Field in Serbia September 15, 2019 for the 75th Anniversary of the rescue of the 500 U.S. Airmen by General Draza Mihailovich and his Serbian Chetniks, the 5th U.S. Army Air Force and the Tuskegee Airmen who flew cover of the mission.

 Bizic has written numerous articles on the above and on Serbian history for national newspapers and magazines. In July, 2001 she was the Curator/Author of the Serb National Federation's Centennial Historic Photo Exhibit that was held in Pittsburgh. The gala SNF "Century of Serbdom" event was televised in Yugoslavia, parts of Australia, England, and several other countries throughout Europe. She is also listed in "Who's Who in the Serbian Diaspora."

Bizic was enthusiastic over a PowerPoint project she implemented in the school library entitled "Literary Leader Reader" for her 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students that gave her students an opportunity to use technology in a creative way while proving they knew requested library skills.  Bizic created CyberHunt-Webquests on The Lewis & Clark Expedition 1803-1804, General Alexander Hays and the Civil War, and especially made for Edgeworth's Centennial---webquests about Edgeworth Borough and the Edgeworth Female Seminary, and the English/Irish author the school was named after, Maria Edgeworth.

Above: Children get ready to salute Edgeworth Boro's Centennial.  The Boro and School were named after the famous English woman from Ireland, Maria Edgeworth.

Below: The Edgeworth Library featured the beautiful LIBERTY tree (lanterns from the Revolutionary War classic JOHNNY TREMAIN), huge cardboard dinosaurs, a flying Dumbo,  the famous monkey Curious George on his bike, THE WILD THINGS, one of the 5 Chinese Brothers on the ceiling, the wooden U.S. soldiers from all branches of the Armed Forces saluting the readers, and so much more!
Mim brought intellectual excitement to many ground-breaking projects, guiding her students to understand, analyze, and connect knowledge and skills across subject areas, where they were expected to think critically, creatively, and apply their knowledge in new ways, all the while having fun doing it.

Bizic officially ended her elementary teaching/library career  in 2004, but not before hosting long-time friend, Steve Wozniak, to her library, and receiving a school-wide, community surprise party.  A magician brought forth long-time PA Senator, Rick Santorum who presented Bizic with a beautifully framed letter from First Lady Laura Bush, also a school librarian.

Mim formally retired from teaching June, 2004, but she didn’t retire from education.  She’s too busy learning about her granddaughter’s latest achievements and demonstrating the wonders of her new incredible iphone everywhere she goes!

Bizic continues to write on a variety of topics for the SRBOBRAN, a national Serbian newspaper, and several local magazines.  

Steve Wozniak visits Edgeworth

After exchanging pleasantries and Christmas cards with Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak for almost 20 years, Edgeworth Elementary School librarian Milana 'Mim' Bizic had to threaten to retire to get him to visit the school.

 

Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette Edgeworth Elementary School librarian Milana Bizic, center, introduces old friend and Apple Computer Co. co-founder Steve Wozniak, right, to the school's pupils during his visit May 18. Bizic and Wozniak became acquainted in the early '80s, when Bizic received awards for her implementation of computers in elementary education. The pupils gave a presentation on how they use Apple computers at the school. Edgeworth Elementary is in the Quaker Valley School District. Click photo for larger image.

"I said 'Steve, you always said you wanted to come to Edgeworth. Well, I'm retiring this year, so you'd better do it fast.' And here he is," said Bizic.

And just how did the 62-year-old woman, dedicated to education for 41 years, come to be on a first-name basis with the California mogul who designed the first personal computer?

"[I met Wozniak] at an awards presentation in 1985 [hosted by Apple Computer Clubs International], and I had this huge display up of these word processing, database and spreadsheet projects that the students did on the Apple II's," said Bizic. "He was impressed, and told me he always wanted to inspire kids like that, and that he wanted to send his son Jesse to Edgeworth," which is part of the Quaker Valley School District.

The unlikely friendship progressed from there. Bizic and her family took Wozniak on a whirlwind tour of Pittsburgh during a visit in '88, and Wozniak gave Bizic one of the first 20 Apple GS's to roll off the assembly line. And though his son never ended up at Edgeworth, Jesse Wozniak graduated from Carnegie Mellon University on May 16.

Though Quaker Valley communications coordinator John Hanna credited the visit to Bizic's personal relationship with Wozniak, Quaker Valley also was honored recently with the 2004 President's Technology Award from the American Association of School Administrators for its use of technology in advancing teaching, learning and achievement.

A 2001 technology grant from the state was used to create a digital school district: Beginning in fourth grade, all Quaker Valley pupils get laptop computers to use during the school year. All are Apple products.

"When I ask how many of [the students] use Apple computers, all of their hands go up," said Bizic. "So it's just great that the inventor can come here and speak to them."

The "inventor" tag dates to 1975, when Wozniak teamed up with Steve Jobs, a friend from his job at calculator-maker Hewlett Packard and a member of his computer hobbyist group. The two came up with a preassembled computer with several key improvements over computer kits of the time, and launched the Apple I in 1976.

The Apple I launched the personal computer revolution, and Apple Computer Co. made Wozniak a multimillionaire. He turned his attention to philanthropy and personal projects two decades ago.

At Edgeworth on May 18, Wozniak was greeted warmly by a library filled with pupils. He was shown a PowerPoint presentation charting his early life through the Crayola renderings of one third-grade class. Second-graders sang a song about world peace and first-graders offered a slightly altered version of 'This Land is Your Land,' substituting computer terms in one of the verses.

An Einstein cardboard cutout even donned a sweat sshirt bearing the words 'Welcome Woz!"

Wozniak then took the floor, telling the story of the birth of the Apple computer, from his persistence in designing and redesigning the machines on paper to the first model he and Jobs built and sold.

He also encouraged the children to pursue their passions.

"Know what direction you want to go. Others may try to direct you, but you've got to know inside what you want to do in life," Wozniak said. "That's why it's important to be educated, so you can be a master ... in control of your life."

Fourth-grader Nathan Pawlik, designer of a PowerPoint presentation shown during the welcoming ceremony, called the event "cool" and "really awesome."

"I use my computer a lot, and after my football career, I want to go into artistic engineering, and a computer will help me with that. So it's great that I got to meet the inventor," he said.

This sentiment was echoed among other pupils, including fellow fourth-grader Emily Kuzma.

"I was happy because we got to know [Wozniak's] opinion of Apple and how he made computers," she said. "I think I'm going to write about this in my diary."

As parent volunteer Donna Kosanovich said, the success of the day was thanks to the passion of Bizic, who "jazzed" up the children and made sure they knew the importance of their visitor.

"Mim is just a wonderful lady, so full of enthusiasm. She not only motivates the students, she motivates me," added volunteer Lori Kuny.

"Mrs. Bizic took us into the age of computers long before the rest of Western Pennsylvania thought about it, and she was instrumental in getting our kids and the teachers acquainted with the computers. She will absolutely be missed," said fourth-grade teacher Sandy Wilson, who will also retire at the end of the year.

"This presentation was just fabulous ... a beautiful way for me to retire," Bizic said. "The children all came through, and got to learn about the magic Woz made possible.

"And that's just what it is: Magic."

First published on May 26, 2004 at 12:00 am

Amanda Michaels can be reached at amichaels@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1419.

 

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE!  Always had a good time in this Library before retiring in 2004.

 

Here's a rare find!  Read this article in Czech!

 http://www.almalap.hu/200407/wozniak.html

 

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 6/4/09

 

A Letter from Pennsylvania Governor, the Honorable Ed Rendell @ the SERBS and the www.babamim.com website!

 

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On Sept. 7, 2011, Moon Township Commissioners formally presented me with a copy of the Proclamation given to the people of Serbia via Jugoslav Cosic at the Township  Building.  (See right hand column ------->)  Thank you, EVERYONE!

 Also present was Carl Walpusk, one of the 500+ U.S. airmen rescued by General Draza Mihailovich and his Chetniks and Serbian villagers during WWII.

I was able to show the Moon Township Commissioners and all Moon residents watching via live coverage of the proceedings, a book from 1946, where Carl and his Sergeant Mato were diligently trying to save the life of General Draza Mihailovich, who was shot by a firing squad in Yugoslavia by the Communists.

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New surprise from Allegheny West Magazine edited and published by Pat Jennette in the November, 2011 issue.  See p.13.

(Click lower right hand corner to enlarge photo.)

Thanks, Pat!  I'm sure the American SERBS and those Serbs found around the world are grateful to you for this.  I sure am!

Sorry to report that Virginia Walpusk, faithful wife of 68 years and mother to 3 wonderful children, was buried on Thursday, January 16, 2014. Memory Eternal, "Vjecnaja Pamjat."

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August 5, 2012

Mim Bizic honored as "Beloved Kuma"

of St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church

in Aliquippa, PA, 15001.

Grandniece Amelia Bizic, granddaughter Jocelyn Bizic, St. Elijah Kuma-Mim Bizic

niece Colleen and nephew Peter Bizic, son Nick Bizic

followed by cousins Joe and Darlene Bobik,

Kathy and Paul Belosh.

Photos: Rose Gantner, Dana Bizic & Mira Tomich

It always rains on St. Elijah's Day, and these few spinkles came at the end of our procession.

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Proud to be on the

Board of Directors of the

Serbian Institute

in Washington, DC

 http://www.serbianinstitute.com/about.htm

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Thank you to all of you who have come here to learn more about our American Serbian people.

When I started this website almost a decade ago, my youngest sister chided, "What kind of a name is that? 'Babamim.com'  No one will ever look that up!"

How happy I am to report that just this evening over 506 visitors have been to this site, just today! 

Thank you everyone!

Mim Bizic  3/13/17

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Mim is also on Facebook under the name of

Mim Bizic,

and she also maintains the Facebbok page of the St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa.

She is still creating Human Interest stories for the American SRBOBRAN,

and is always trying to add more to this babamim.com website.

A poem Mim wrote was recently featured in the July, 2000 issue of the Village Voice publication.

Last Night

by Milana Karlo Bizic (6/18/15)

Wonderful dreams allowed me to frolic

With relatives so long gone.

A soothing, Heavenly balm

From those who have had to move on,

But definitely have not been forgotten

As we share an inseparable bond.

I was part of this colorful family mural

Watching the joyous action all around

Laughter, and Love abounded you see

Richocheting from Uncles, Aunts,

So very dear to me.

Happy banter reflected Harmony, Refuge

From world headlines and turbulent times.

Iconic windows to Heaven they be

Those precious relatives, so special to me.

Parents, Grandparents, Kumovi

True Junaci, singing loud and strong

"Marshilala, Marshilala" marching along,

Happy. Close. Clear

So far, and yet so near.

Delighting in our Mamula family song!

Like old Back Joe, "I'm coming!"

"I'm coming," But not yet for awhile.

There's still too much left to do.

So until then, I'll sit and smile

Recalling dreams so vivid, true.

Just so you know, it's so hard to awake,

When you want to steadfastly further partake

With dreams of such colorful Hue!

Mim directed huge Veteran Day Ceremonies each year at her Edgeworth Elementary School in Sewickley, PA.

Mim's Honors:

Tesla Award: "Preserving Serbian culture and heritage, 200 Years of Serbs in America, June 28, 2014." Philadelphia, PA, Arch St. Meeting House.

200 Years of Serbs in America, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA. Nikola Rackov, Serbian pianist who accompanied Primadonna Jadranka Jovanovich, and Mim with Benjamin Franklin, Friday, June 27, 2014.

You can read more about the event here:  

http://phillyvidovdan.com/

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Who's Who of American Women-1995

National Endownment for the Humanities Awardee-1995

Pennsylvanian Educational Cultural Ambassador to Japan-1993

Who's Who in American Teaching: 1992

Citizen of the Year with Drs. Fusco and Marrone for SewickleyNET: 1997

National Science Awardee from the Smithsonian- ASCT: 1990

Thanks to Teachers Award (Pitt/Westinghouse/KDKA): 1990

"On behalf of all Pennsylvanians," this proclamation came from the Governor Casey's office.

Woman of the Year-Sewickley, PA 1987

National Awards from Apple Computer 1985-86; 1986-87; 1987-88; 1989-90.

Judge's Choice Award at Boston Fest: 1988

Serbian Unity Congress:

SNF President Peter Borkovich presents Mim with the Award Friday, July 18, 2008

Milana Karlo Bizic flanked by sisters Dr. Rose K. Gantner and Alexandra K. Nolan for the 91st Serbian Day at Kennywood where Mim received a plaque from the SNF: "In appreciation for your long and distinguished service to the SNF."

Cousin Joe Bobik brought a bouquet of red and white roses!

Greetings from my

(Click on all images to enlarge)

Congressman Jason Altmire!

"The Power of Three" iPad App

The POWER OF THREE!

Apple iPad Educational App

Finally here!

September, 2012!

Working as an virtual international team, my two wonderful colleagues,

Dilip Kumar

and

Ayesha Deane

of Bangalore, India,

and I have worked electronically in tamden to create what we hope will be named an award-winning app, aptly called

"The Power of Three."

The Power of Three iPad app was created for:

children, parents, teachers, librarians, learners of all ages

Who desire to encourageHigher Order Thinking Skills

• Encourages the creative thinking skills of

1.Fluency

2.Flexibility

3.Divergent thinking

4.Mental Imaging

5.Problem solving

• Designed to be interactive
• Promotes sharing of ideas and strategies

• Offers a fresh approach to traditional library classes, helping teachers teach skills necessary for todays Innovation needs in fun-managed, activity based classrooms

• Meets state standards for enrichment, strong thinking and organizational skills

(Brainstorming, organizing, planning, seeing patterns and relationships and categorizing ideas)

• Fosters achievement benefits across all content areas

• Helpful to all children, even those with learning disabilities

(Retention skills---helps recall information)

• Aids Transfer Thinking Skills, great for Schema theory:

(Linking existing knowledge to novel situations and content)

• Encourages children to value the love of learning

Parents, Administrators, Teachers and Librarians on the lookout to teach novel ways of looking at the world, while concurrently teaching empathy skills for children who just dont fit the average mold, will truly find this app exciting and way more than satisfying.

Overview:

Well-known economist, Richard Florida, wrote: the engine that drives our economy is Creativity.

This app is our effort to change present-day young Consumers of knowledge into Producers of knowledge and future leaders for our world.

Johnny, the lazy Reluctant Learner, transforms into a Change Leader and Classroom Champion, providing vision and new direction to his fellow table teammates and finally the whole class. Destructive behavior changes into constructive, productive behavior.

This app exposes FluencyandFlexibility

skill training to ALL participants quickly and easily, most of whom will delight in this stimulating activity that aims to expand on their abilities, and develop their potential.

Creative thinking varies by levels and degree, but individual knowledge bases can be enhanced, and this book is a primer for readers to get fired-up in finding the magic of discovering, developing and utilizing their own many talents.

Because of the worlds complexity, change and competition, the ability to generate new ideas and bring them to the table is a critical life skill, essential for successful business.

Creative thinking skills are useful in any discipline.Linus Pauling, the physicist wrote, The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas. This book seeks to promote ideation and to enhance each childs ability to go On beyond Z.

It's here!

Although I wrote the Story and narrate it, I give much credit to my incredible illustrator Ayesha, and my app developer, Dilip and his team.

More about Dilip: 

Entrepreneur & Co-founder of GreatMinds-Media Solutions developing multi-solutions and products for the Media and Publishing Industry; Experienced Consumer Electronics and Media industry professional; wide range of experience in technical and managerial roles in development of integration of various Consumer electronics, Telecommunications and Digital embedded products to customers in Asia, Americas and Europe.

More about Ayesha: 

Artist and illustrator for more than 20 books, mainly Children’s books.  Ayesha says: “I love this particular line of work as I feel it is a great challenge to my creativity.  I see each page as a work of art and fresh ideas are always required. It is my intention to create art that speaks.” 

And she does! 

What a great joy it has been to work with such talented people who shared a common purpose and goal of developing a unique learning experience for the end user(s)!