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William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation

Friday Medal

The Friday Medal honors significant, distinguished and enduring contributions to education and beyond through advocating innovation, advancing education and imparting inspiration.

In recognition of the commitment of Bill and Ida Friday to educational excellence, the College of Education’s William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation created The Friday Medal. This award is given annually to those who embody the mission and spirit of the Friday Institute.

Alfred Mays is the 27th recipient of the Friday Medal.
A man stands behind a podium with his hand on his chest in gratitude
Alfred Mays was presented with the Friday Medal Nov. 17.

Past Recipients

  • 2024 Maria Pitre-Martin; Deputy State Superintendent at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
  • 2023 Tom Williams; President of Strategic Educational Alliances, Inc.
  • 2022 Dr. James A. Banks, Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies Emeritus at the University of Washington College of Education and founding director of the Banks Center for Educational Justice; Joann Blumenfeld, founder and program director for Catalyst at The Science House
  • 2021 Mebane Rash; CEO and editor-in-chief at EducationNC (EdNC).
  • 2020 Dr. Dudley E. Flood; educator and former administrator at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) who was instrumental in desegregating North Carolina’s schools
  • 2018 Dr. Shelley Goldman; Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education
  • 2017 Innovative Superintendents from North Carolina’s Rural Districts; Patrick Miller, Lynn Moody, Robert Taylor, Jeff McDaris, Janet Mason, Anthony Jackson and Darrin Hartness
  • 2016 Judge Howard E. Manning, Jr.; Former Superior Court Judge who oversaw enforcement of Leandro v. State of North Carolina
  • 2015 Hon. Bob Wise; President of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia
  • 2014 Muriel Thomas Summers; Principal of A.B. Combs Leadership Elementary School and co-author of The Leader in Me
  • 2013 Dr. Robert Tinker; President Emeritus and Founder of the Concord Consortium
  • 2012 Dr. David H. Rose; faculty member at Harvard University and co-founder and chief education officer for the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
  • 2011 Dr. Bill McNeal; Transformation School Coach in Durham and the 2004 National Superintendent of the Year
  • 2010 Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond; Charles E. Ducommon Professor of Education at Stanford University
  • 2009 Dr. Chris Dede; Timothy E. Wirth Professor in Learning Technologies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education
  • 2008 Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.; former Governor of North Carolina
  • 2008 Dr. Don Leu, the Neag Endowed Chair in Literacy and Technology at the University of Connecticut
  • 2007 Bette Manchester, Director of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative.
  • 2006 Dr. Ken Branch, Founding Principal of Centennial Campus Middle School