College of Education inducts 18 members into Hall of Fame
The East Carolina University College of Education (COE) inducted 18 people into the Educators Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Fletcher Recital Hall on Nov. 9.
The Hall of Fame highlights the service of teachers, administrators and educational advocates in North Carolina and beyond.
“The men and women who are about to be inducted into the Educators Hall of Fame have gone above and beyond what is expected of educators and helped to raise the dignity of our profession,” said Bruce Beasley, chair of the COE Professional Advisory Board.
Members of the 2019 class of inductees to the ECU College of Education Educators Hall of Fame include, back row, from left, Madeline Davis Tucker, Janis Taylor Tucker, Lynne C. Wigent, and Alana M. Zambone; middle row, from left, Christa L. Farmer, Mark Edward L’Esperance, a representative for the late Mabel James Perry, J. Christopher Buddo, and Kathy Godley Clark; and front row, from left, Kathy Sue Gaskins Riggs, Lynn Pritchett Harrington, Sherry Rae Buck, Andrea Mills Blackwood, and Gail Watson Richards. (Photos by Kristen Martin)
Recipients are honored with a personalized plaque permanently mounted on the Educators Hall of Fame wall in the Speight Building. To nominate an individual, a significant gift is donated to the Educators Hall of Fame Scholarship Endowment Fund. This year’s Hall of Fame scholarship recipient, Grace Harper, spoke at the ceremony about why she chose to pursue teaching as her career.
“Teachers help students not only learn academic skills that will be important later on in life, they also teach their students many personal skills that help them succeed on a different level,” said Harper. “Teachers can teach students how to think creatively and independently and how to trust and believe in themselves.”
This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Charles Coble, the former dean of the ECU College of Education and past chair of the advisory board. He spoke about the importance of teachers and education as well as why funding scholarships is crucial.
“Higher education is costly and out of reach for many of our hard-working fellow citizens. That reality was one of my heartbreaks when I served as dean – so many students struggled to stay in college and pursue their dream of becoming a teacher,” Coble said.
Coble also thanked all of the donors for their contributions. “The inductees and the donors’ generosity will create a legacy that will support future teachers far out into the future,” he said.
Donors and nominees both spoke about the significance of the Educators Hall of Fame.
College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean Chris Buddo, middle, accepts his Educators Hall of Fame plaque from Acting Provost Grant Hayes.
Dr. Vivian Covington, assistant dean for undergraduate affairs in COE, nominated her colleague, Dr. Alana Zambone, associate dean for research, for the award.
“We need to make sure that we’re honoring the people who have given their time and talents to education. I see the work that she does every day,” Covington said.
Dr. Chris Buddo, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, was one of this year’s recipients. “It’s just a humbling experience particularly when I look at the others on the list, I know a number of these people,” he said. “I think it’s a great list and I’m really proud to be in that company.”
2019 Educators Hall of Fame Honorees:
- Andrea Mills Blackwood – Raleigh
- Sherry Rae Buck – Greenville
- Christopher Buddo – Greenville
- Kathy Godley Clark – Raleigh
- Christa L. Farmer – Washington
- Lynn Pritchett Harrington – Washington
- Gwen P. Jeffreys – Greensboro
- Mark Edward L’Esperance – Rockingham, Virginia
- Mabel James Perry – Bethel
- Henry Pryce – Mocksville
- Gail Watson Richards – Goldsboro
- Kathy Sue Gaskins Riggs – Greenville
- Clinton Herbert Strong – Bloomington, Indiana
- Dorothy B. Tolson – Tarboro
- Madeline Davis Tucker – Richlands
- Janis Taylor Tucker – Dover
- Lynne C. Wigent – Greenville
- Alana M. Zambone – Greenville
Since 1999, the Educators Hall of Fame has recognized the accomplishments of more than 500 individuals and raised more than $632,000 toward the $1 million scholarship endowment goal.
For more information, contact Terah Archie in the college’s Office of Community Relations and Outreach at archiet15@ecu.edu or 252-737-1257.
-by Kristen Martin, University Communications