News
Hankins honored at AHF recognition
By Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor
Email this story |
Print this story
Alabama First Lady Patsy Riley with Wetumpka Intermediate School teacher and scholarship winner Gigi Hankins. -- Special to the Herald
Gigi Hankins was more than a few miles removed from her usual territory Monday. The Wetumpka Intermediate School fourth-grade teacher was one of only five teachers from around the state who received a 2007 Jenice Riley Memorial Scholarship during the annual Alabama Humanities Foundation’s awards program, held at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham.
This is the fifth year the scholarships benefiting kindergarten through sixth grade teachers have been awarded. The grants are funded by Wetumpka native Edgar Welden in memory of the daughter of Gov. Bob Riley and his wife, Patsy.
“It was an amazing event,” said Hankins. “I spoke with Mrs. Riley and their son, Rob, who presented the awards. They both shared about Jenice Riley and her experiences teaching; and about how this was a way to keep her dreams alive.”
The $1,000 grants are given to enhance teaching of Alabama/American history and citizenship, and to encourage civic involvement by students in their community.
“Last year my partner teacher, Stacy Williams, and I wrote a play about Alabama history,” said Hankins. “Our students performed it at school, and also at the Alabama Archives.”
Hankins said they began looking for funding to improve the production, and she applied for the scholarship grant.
“When I filled out the application, I explained what we had done last year and that the kids loved it,” she said. “I asked for money for costuming and to take the students on field trips they couldn’t otherwise go on -- for instance, to Helen Keller’s birthplace and Tuskegee University.
“We would also like to take the play to other elementary schools in our county,” she added.
Selection was based on the teacher’s commitment to encouraging students’ pride in Alabama and America, helping them to understand history, instilling an awareness and an appreciation of ancestors and heritage, building civic pride and teaching the value of public service. The WIS program meets those criteria.
“Our play is just a neat way to teach about famous people in Alabama history,” Hankins said. “And we’ve been invited back to the Archives again this December.
“I explained to Mrs. Riley about the play, and how she was a character in it,” she continued. “I also told her about the performance in Montgomery, and she plans to attend.”
Hankins said numerous dignitaries were on hand for the program, since many are associated with the AHF.
“It was just a wonderful event,” she said.
Currently Hankins and Williams are editing the play to fit this year’s students. Each child will have a role in the production.
“We’ll start practicing in October. We’re very excited,” said Hankins. “I think the information students learn during this process stays with them. And when we go to Frontier Days in November it means more to them.”
