Teachers Who Made a Difference Program Honors Influential Educators
[IMAGE1]LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2011) — Celebrating its 13th year, the University of Kentucky College of Education’s Teachers Who Made a Difference program honored its newest group of educators at the 2011 ceremony held Saturday, April 30. More than 140 educators from nine states were recognized for the significant influence they have had in the lives of their students.
"The University of Kentucky College of Education prides itself on preparing great teachers," said Mary Ann Vimont, the college's director of Public Relations and Student, Alumni and Community Affairs. "As part of our mission, we also think it is important to honor those teachers who are making a difference in the lives of their students, here in Kentucky and across the country."
The program got its start in 1998 as part of the College's 75th anniversary celebration. With over 90 teachers honored that year and the overwhelming support from the UK campus and community, the College of Education decided to make it an annual event. In its 13 years, more than 1,600 educators have been honored.
Teachers Who Made a Difference is not a competition. Each year, all submissions are accepted up to a predetermined limit with each being honored that year. This year’s total for honorees was the result of a large increase in interest in the program. Also each year, the program is assisted by a spokesperson who helps get the word out. In the past, Dermontti Dawson, Tubby Smith, UK President Lee T. Todd Jr., Kyle Macy, and Dan and Cheri Issel have led the charge. In 2011, UK Men’s Basketball Coach John Calipari offered his support of the program.
"At some point in our lives when we were young, someone stoked that fire," Calipari said. "There was that someone who made us feel good about learning, not just getting A's on tests. That’s why it’s important."
Educators were invited to a breakfast reception and program at the UK Student Center Great Hall and Center Theater. Entertainment was provided by Jamie Bradley, daughter of College of Education Associate Professor Kelly Bradley, and the Lexington Singers Children’s Choir. Also, Lexington’s own presidential whiz kid Jaden Wilkins shared some of his presidential knowledge with the crowd. The program was rounded out by the recognition of the honorees and the presentation of certificates to those in attendance.
If you are interested in nominating a teacher for the 2012 program, submissions will be accepted beginning in December 2011 at http://education.uky.edu/Community/TWMAD.
The 2011 Teachers Who Made a Difference:
Kentucky
Sunayan Acharya, Lexington
Megan Harris Albright, Danville
Jeffrey Ashley, Lexington
Jennifer Ayers, Lexington
Claudine Barrow, Lexington
H. Brent Barton, Richmond
Wendell Berry, Port Royal
Autumn Betts, Shelbyville
Lars Björk, Lexington
Kristina Blair, Lexington
Sandra Bolster, Berea
Lori Bowen, Lexington
Leslie Burns, Lexington
Karen M. Butler, Lexington
Jill Tolar Campbell, Lexington
Cletus Carvalho, Lexington
Hendricks D. (deceased) and Edna W. Caudill, Jeffersontown
General Caudill (deceased), Premium
Meredith Clark, Nicholasville
Teresa Combs, Hindman
Eddie Comeaux, Lexington
Kim Cooper, Versailles
Lina Crocker, Lexington
Donald Cross, Lexington
James Robert Daughters, Burlington
Grant Davis, Lexington
Staci Ann Davis, Lexington
Linda Kelly Dewees, Nicholasville
Dolly Dressman, Lexington
Lee Edgerton, Lexington
Linda Edin, Lexington
Steve Lee Ellis, Lexington
Philip Roger Evans, Barbourville
Rebecca Farmer, Winchester
Meghan Finley, Lexington
Tay Fizdale, Lexington
Robert H. Flashman, Lexington
John David Friend, Lexington
Lauren Gallicchio, Lexington
Martha Gehringer, Lexington
Art Goldman, Lexington
Grace Gorrell, Lexington
Mary Beth Gosser, Russell Springs
Craig M. Grimm, Crestwood
Jennifer Grisham-Brown, Frankfort
Angela Boyle Gunter, Owensboro
Jason Hans, Lexington, Kentucky
Nicole Hendricks, Burlington
Roxie Hoffman, Louisville
Bruce Holle, Lexington
John Holloway, Lexington
Marcia Holt, Nicholasville
Peggy Huff, Hazel Green
Bretta Hulcha, Lexington
Charles Hunter, Maysville
Jane Jensen, Lexington
Rachel Jones, Lexington
Albert Kalim, Lexington
Monica Kern, Lexington
Denny LaGrange, Hardinsburg
Jan Lane, Lexington
Sarah Lawson, Lexington
Hui Chi Lee, Lexington
Dorothy Lewis, Staffordsville
Regina Lowery, Lexington
Gregory A. Luhan, Lexington
Andrea Marcum, Lexington
Jason Martin, Lexington
Brenda McCray, Lexington
Georgie Medina, Lexington
Melissa Melton, Lexington
Charles L. Metcalf, Richmond
Patricia C. Metcalf, Franklin
Mary Jayne Miller, Lexington
Moddie Miller, Lexington
Megan Montgomery, Lancaster
Susan Y. Montgomery, Mount Washington
Michael Paul Murphy, Lexington
Matthew Noblin, Lexington
Darlene Ogata, Lexington
Earl Ogata, Lexington
Mel Oldham, Lexington
Selena Oliva, Louisville
Sue Osborne, Florence
Lisa Osterman, Lexington
Matthew Page, Lexington
Ida Palmer-Ball, Frankfort
Billy Parker, Frankfort
Kandi Brown Parker, Olive Hill
Leslie Perkins, Sadieville
Armando Prats, Lexington
Cleophus V. Price, Lexington
Denise Probst, Lexington
Rebecca Puckett, Lexington
Thomas Reece, Lexington
Pamela Remer, Lexington
Joseph A. Rey-Barreau, Lexington
Emily Roark, Salyersville
Kathy Roberts, Lexington
Richard Roe, Jackson
Carol S. Royse, Lexington
Leland Francis Ryan, Lexington
Yvonne Ryan, Hardinsburg
Jennifer Sallee, Lawrenceburg
John Seabolt, Lexington
Roberta Shain, Lexington
Everice Sharp, Harrodsburg
Eric Snyder, Lexington
Chuck Stallard, Danville
Karen Tice, Lexington
Sandra Tidwell, Mayfield
Richard Todd, Murray
Wendy Turner, Lexington
Kenneth Tyler, Lexington
Mandy Vincent, Lexington
Irina Voro, Lexington
Elizabeth Watts, Lexington
Michael White, Lexington
Jakobi Williams, Lexington
Jennifer Sandleben Willis, Henderson
Joseph Wilson, Lexington
Constance L. Wood, Lexington
Kim Woodrum, Lexington
Serenity Wright, Lexington
Phyllis Ann Wyles, Cynthiana
Youling L. Xiong, Lexington
Robert A. Yokel, Lexington
Scott Yost, Lexington
Sandra Zupan, Lexington
Arkansas
Amy Amy, Conway
Colorado
Deloras H. Bott, Arvada
Wendall Grishow, Pueblo
Indiana
Debbi Brock, Anderson
Neil Rapp, Bloomington
Louisiana
Derek D. Bardell, New Orleans
New York
Kenneth Appel, Lake Peekskill
Loraina Ghirladi, Canton
Ohio
Joey Bennington (deceased), Peebles, Ohio
Lori Dorn, West Carrollton
Steve Dunn, Covington
Herbert W. Ockerman
Chrissy Rode, Toledo
Pennsylvania
Francis A. Pelczar, Jr., Erie
Tennessee
Rebecca Johnson, Portland
MEDIA CONTACT: Jenny Wells, (859) 257-1754 ext. 254; Jenny.Wells@uky.edu