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| Messenger photo by Andrea Cordle |
| Amy Eades, a teacher at Franklin Heights High School, holds a plaque given to her by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. She was named a 2007 educator of distinction by the company after being nominated by a student. |
Amy Eades, a French teacher at Franklin Heights High School, has been named a 2007 Coca-Cola Educator of Distinction by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.
She is one of 250 educators across the nation chosen to receive the honor. According to the scholars foundation, the award recognizes outstanding teachers dedicated to providing education with an enhanced purpose.
Eades has been teaching at Franklin Heights for five years. She was nominated by Adbifatah Moallin, a student who recently graduated from the school and a 2007 Coca-Cola scholar. Each year the scholars foundation chooses 250 outstanding high school seniors, nationwide, to receive scholarships of either $10,000 or $20,000. Once named, that student designates the teacher, coach, principal or counselor that inspired and encouraged them most through their high school years. For Moallin, that teacher was Eades.
"They presented me with the award on the last day of school," said Eades. "I was so honored and touched."
Mark Davis, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation said, "The Coca-Cola Educator of Distinction Award represents the noble and heartfelt dedication of the educators who win it. These teachers help shape the future of America by encouraging its future leaders."
He added, "The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation is committed to education, and we are proud to support the Educators of Distinction program. It is our way of saying thank you and congratulations to these teachers."
Eades received a commemorative crystal gift along with a plaque inscribed with a personal dedication written by Moallin. In that message, Moallin thanked Eades for her caring attitude and treating him with respect. He also wrote that he felt honored to be part of her class for four years.
"It was so personal and heartfelt," said Eades. "I really can’t say enough about what this means to me."
Eades explained that Moallin was an immigrant from Somali that came to the United States when he was 7-years-old. With the scholarship money, he plans to attend The Ohio State University this fall.
"He was a very special student and I’m honored to have had him in my class," Eades remarked.
According to the company, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation was created in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Coca-Cola and to establish a legacy for the education of tomorrow’s leaders through college scholarships. Including the 2007 class of scholars, the foundation has awarded more than 3,750 students with a total of $32 million in scholarship awards. This is the eighth year the foundation has presented the Educator of Distinction Award to outstanding educators.
