ARLINGTON, TX, November 12, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Linda Altoonian with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Altoonian celebrates nearly 50 years' experience in her professional career, and has been noted for her achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
A certified, secondary-level English and Communications teacher in Maryland, New Jersey and Texas, Ms. Altoonian holds licensure endorsements in journalism, photography, speech and debate. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Maryland in 1972 and her Master of Arts Degree in Communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1977. After teaching Advanced English for six years in New Jersey and earning her Master's Degree, she was named Co-director of Human Horizons, a counseling center where she worked with families in crisis and conducted communication training. She was also a regularly featured radio guest addressing the topic of effective parenting.
After her family's move to Texas and staying home for almost a decade to raise and educate her children, Ms. Altoonian began her work in publication production as the Editor-in-Chief of numerous national magazines including Home Expressions, Sew Perfect, Country Music Today, and Kidz Fun Zone. She was the editor and chief writer of The Texas Longhorn Journal and Texas Athlete, and a contributor and PR consultant to Chili Pepper and Pet Life magazines. The collector's editions she wrote and produced included Billy Bob's 25th Anniversary Edition, the pictorial publication for songstress Selena and the only family-authorized magazine about the life of Mickey Mantle that included coverage of organ donation for which she earned the Presidential Award for Outstanding Service from President Bill Clinton.
Called to pass on her skills to young hopefuls, Ms. Altoonian began teaching journalism and publication production for the Arlington Independent School District in 1997. Her publications, both yearbooks and literary magazines, won top honors each year on both the state and national levels. The National Scholastic Press Association named her yearbook an "All American Book" each year and her literary magazine the Best Magazine in the State of Texas and in the Nation.
In addition to yearly gold medals for publication from Columbia University, and Texas State Stars for book production, her publication was selected "Best in the Nation" by Time Magazine in 2002. For her outstanding work in the classroom, she was twice selected state "Teacher of the Year" by the Press Women of Texas in 2005 and by the Inter Scholastic Press League in 2011.
To 20 years of teaching, she added writing an award winning, syndicated column for the Fort Worth Star Telegram about aging in America. Her six year column became the genesis for her first book called Living Agelessly published by New York publisher Diamedica in 2008. Her second book, Kitchen Stories, was published by Epicenter in 2015. Her forthcoming projects include a children's book and a historical fiction called Emerald Escape. Her children's literature has been showcased in Kidz Fun Zone Magazine and in Half Price Book's "Lullaby" Bedtime Series. Her poetry has been included in the Outstanding Poet's Compilation by the National Library of Poetry.
Ms. Altoonian also invests her time in speaking, consulting and traveling. She has been blessed to tour over 50 countries, several third world, and 45 states, but her greatest joys, in addition to writing and editing, are her grandchildren and her philanthropic work.
She was a longtime, award winning Girl Scout leader who guided her daughter and other girls to the highest-level Gold Award and her son to Eagle Scout. Among the numerous scouting projects benefitting Arlington was her work with the North Texas Council of Governments and the Arlington Independent School System to implement her plan to begin the first recycling program in Arlington. She was a ten-year PTA board member, taught reading and French in elementary schools, was instrumental is building parks in Arlington, established neighborhood Crime Watch, and judged Best Robotics Contests for over ten years.
Since the retirement of her column and from teaching, she adds to writing and editing full time volunteering at her church and leading Bible study and women's ministry events. She spearheads marketing and public relations for the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) literacy program that serves disadvantaged children in Title 1 schools. She also takes care of foster-to-adoption babies, and is an Administrator at Open Arms Free Health Clinic (www.openarmshealthclinic.org).
Ms. Altoonian has also volunteered for over 5 years for the Fort Worth Food Festival. In charge of all the volunteers at a main event, she continues to work countless hours with others to benefit culinary students. Her love of cooking is obvious in her popular cookbook, Kitchen Stories, in her work to create scholarships and culinary experiences for students hoping to become chefs, and to promote excellent restaurants and chefs in the DFW area.
She is a board member of AAUW (American Association of University Women) and the recipient of their Gift Honoree of the Year in 2015, is a life member of the National Journalism Education Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and is a named member of Astronaut Sharon Christa McAuliffe's Education Flag of Learning & Liberty Hall of Fame.
Ms. Altoonian has always had a heart for children of every age expressed through her years of teaching, tutoring, caring for foster children through the Gladney Adoption Agency, and supporting them through World Orphans and Children International.
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