Academic Awards Program

Medal for Excellence Winners

The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence announced today the five winners of its Oklahoma Medal for Excellence awards honoring the state’s top educators and an outstanding alternative education program.

The state’s top academic prizes will be presented at the foundation’s 22nd annual Academic Awards Banquet on May 17 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center, 6808 S. 107th E. Ave. Each of the five winners will receive a $10,000 cash award, with an additional $2,000 cash prize going to the schools of the winning teachers and administrator. The recipients also will receive glass “Roots and Wings” sculptures, created by Oklahoma artist Ron Roberts and produced by Jim Triffo of Oklahoma City. Medals are awarded annually to outstanding Oklahoma teachers, one each at the elementary, secondary, and college/university levels, and an administrator from the elementary or secondary level. An exemplary alternative education program also receives medallion honors.

The 2008 Medal for Excellence winners are:

Valorie Lewis, Stigler Elementary School, (elementary level), STIGLER

Sheryl Melton, Beaver High School (secondary), BEAVER

James J. Yoch Jr., University of Oklahoma, (college/university), NORMAN

Steven P. Crawford, superintendent of BYNG Public Schools (administration)

Choctaw Alternative Transitional School in CHOCTAW (alternative education)