Christopher Columbus Coin Image

Freida J. Riley Teacher Award 2000

$5,000 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Columbus Scholar
Robert A. Ferguson

Robert A. Ferguson, the first recipient of the Freida J. Riley Teacher Award, is a special education teacher at Whitney Middle School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Award was presented in May at the Opening Ceremony for Space Day 2000 at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

A recipient of the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Vietnam, Mr. Ferguson has faced trials that would have defeated lesser men. In addition to his injuries, he has battled and triumphed over Crohns disease and diabetes to accomplish his goal of becoming a special education teacher for multi-handicapped students in grades 6-8.

Mr. Ferguson has also chosen to draw strength from his difficult past and illnesses to give back to the youth in his community where he has been a leader of cadets in the Civil Air Patrol and a teacher-instructor at StarBase. Both state and national leaders have recognized Mr. Ferguson for his devotion to youth at school and in his community.