Christopher Columbus Coin Image

Freida J. Riley Teacher Award

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation presents the Freida J. Riley Teacher Award to an American teacher who works with a physical disability, teaches in an especially challenging educational environment, or has performed a heroic act by making an exceptional, personal or physical sacrifice on behalf of students. In 2002, the Foundation's Board of Trustees increased the award from $5,000 to $10,000.

The award is named after Freida J. Riley a math, chemistry and physics teacher during the early space race era of the 1950s and early 60s at Big Creek High School in Coalwood, West Virginia. While battling Hodgkin's disease, she inspired her students to overcome the limited opportunities of their era and environment to aspire to fulfill their dreams. Miss Riley died at age 31.

Miss Riley had a tremendous influence on her students from McDowell County, West Virginia--Homer Hickam, Jimmy Carroll, Roy Lee Cooke, Willie Rose and Quentin Wilson--whose lives and their desire to launch rockets were depicted in the novel the Rocket Boys, written by Homer Hickam, and the subsequent 1999 feature film October Sky. The "Rocket Boys" were the inspirational speakers at the 1999 National Gallery. Their obvious devotion to their teacher, after more than 40 years, was the catalyst for sponsoring an award honoring educators.

2009 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Nomination

The national 2009 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award™ is sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, a Federal government agency, and the West Virginia Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Committee, in cooperation with the State of West Virginia, the Harrison County Commission and the YWCA of Harrison County, West Virginia.

Please download the official Nomination form for the 2009 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award by clicking below. The completed Nomination packet must be received by the West Virginia Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Committee at the address shown on the form by 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 2, 2009. Emailed, faxed or late Nominations will not be accepted.

The Deadline for Nominations has been extended to Monday, March 16, 2009.

2009 Freida J. Riley Nomination Form [pdf]


If you have any questions, please call West Virginia Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Committee at (304) 624-6881 or email your inquiry to [email protected], or call the Foundation at (315) 258-0090 or email your inquiry to [email protected].