Emilie Kaim has been teaching first grade in the Regional Gifted Program at A.G. Bell Elementary School for over fifteen years. She has guided hundreds of students on the road to academic success. Many of her students are attending or have attended some of the finest high schools and post secondary institutions in the United States. Ms. Kaim is an exceptional teacher.

Widely regarded as the “Father” of the financial services for the Deaf in America, Louis J. Schwarz, *QFP, CFP®, RFC®, ChFEBC, paved the way for deaf professionals providing financial services in the private sector by establishing his tax preparation firm in 1971. Prior in obtaining the Certified Financial Planner® license in 1986, he established the first deaf-owned registered investment advisory (RIA) firm in America in 1983. Mr. Schwarz, featured as the first deaf financial professional in Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, holds several designations that qualify him as an outstanding professional in the financial services field. His professional qualifications extend beyond the industry by virtue of his community activism as he has continuously served in the Deaf community, for over 40 years, through many organizations including several organizations that he established, namely, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Entrepreneurs Council, National Deaf Business Institute (NDBI), Montgomery County (MD) Association of Deaf (MDAD). His tireless fundraising and pro bono services for these organizations, including Dee Cee Eyes, American Society for Parents of Deaf Children, Deaf Abused Women’s Network (DAWN) and National Association of the Deaf (NAD), demonstrate his commitment to the Deaf community. Focusing on inaccessibility issues for the Deaf, he currently devotes much of his available time to act as a board member for the following boards: National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Technical and E-911 Committees, National Emergency Numbers Association (NENA)’s Accessibility Committee, the Governor’s Advisory Board on Telecommunication Relay, State of Maryland and Tri-County Association of the Deaf (Florida). *Qualified Financial Planner (QFP), Registered Financial Consultant ® (RFC), Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant™ (ChFEBC) and NASD Series 7/63 Registered Representative

Michaelk Strautmanis - Bell School class of 1983, has been named Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison; in the Obama administration.

Peggy E Gustafson, 1967-present. Former Assistant State's Attorney in Kansas City, MO. Became Head Legal Counsel for the State Auditor of Missouri. Member of Legal Staff for Senator Claire McCaskill. Nominated for Inspector General of SBA by President Obama in June 2009. Confirmed for the position by the Senate September 2009.