Excellence in Education annual event drew a big crowd.
By Judy Clabes
NKyTribune editor
A grand night for celebrating Excellence in Education drew a big crowd including state dignitaries to see students, teachers, administrators, businesses, and volunteers recognized for their achievements.
The Northern Kentucky Education Council and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce sponsor the annual program, whose theme this year was “A Brighter Future for Northern Kentucky.” The event was held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center and drew nearly 700 people.
Joining the celebration were Hal Heiner, state Secretary of Education and Workforce Development, and Dave Adkisson, president and CEO of the state Chamber of Commerce.
Top awards for the evening went to Tammy Weidinger, president and CEO of the Brighton Center, who received the Champion for Education honor and to retired Gateway Community & Technical College president Ed Hughes who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tammy Weidinger, Champion for Education
Presented by Brent Cooper, C-Forward, and Randy Poe, superintendent of Boone County Schools
Tammy Weidinger is a lifelong champion for empowering students and families in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. She serves as president and CEO of Brighton Center, whose mission is to create opportunities for individuals and families to reach self-sufficiency through family support services, education, employment and leadership.
Tammy Weidinger
Her 34-year history with Brighton Center began with front line work with individuals and families and led to her current position, responsible for leadership of Bright Center programs.
She has also served on the boards of Every Child Succees and the Northern Kentucky Regional mental Health Community Corrections Board, and she currently is a board member for the Northern Kentucky Education Council and the Newport Business Association.
Video tributes for Tammy included Sarah Hughes, former board chair of Brighton Center, and Jay Brewer, superintendent of Dayton Independent School District.
Ed Hughes, Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented by Polly Lusk Page, executive director of the Northern Kentucky Education Council, and Trey Grayson, CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Retired Gateway Community & Technical College president Ed Hughes was honored for a lifetime commitment to education that started in Kentucky when he became one of the youngest college presidents in the country in 1985 as president of Hazard Community College. He holds a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University.
Honoring Ed Hughes, Lifetime Achievement
A life-long educator, he became the founding president and chief executive officer of Gateway Community & Technical College in 2001, retiring in 2015.
Hughes was an active and engaged civic leader who was involved in many community organizations, among them the Urban Learning Center, the Life Learning Center, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Vision 2015, United Way, and the Northern Kentucky Council of Partners.
Video tributes to Hughes’ lifetime of service came from Amber Decker, vice president of Development and Strategic Partnerships for Gateway, Dave Armstrong, president of Thomas More College, Randy Poe, superintendent of Boone County schools, and Brent Cooper, president of C-Forward.
Time Warner was winner of the Business Engagement of the Year award for their work with R. A. Jones School.
Numerous awards recognized Academic and Career/Technical All-Stars, Students who achieve Against All Odds, excellence in early childhood, literacy, collaboration, community leadership, and teaching.
Watch for details and profiles of the winners in the next NKyTribune story in a series about Northern Kentucky’s ‘Bright Future’ as told in the people who are making it happen.
