Friday Medal

Two women stand in blazers in front of a red backdrop. They hold a frame between them holding a medal hanging on a ribbon.

Nov 25, 2024

Education Leader Maria Pitre-Martin Receives 2024 Friday Medal

When Maria Pitre-Martin addresses a crowd, she usually starts with some version of her signature phrase, “Hello, everyone!” The “everyone” she’s addressing is intentional, in an effort to be inclusive…

Aug 20, 2024

2024 Friday Medal Ceremony

In recognition of the commitment of Bill and Ida Friday to educational excellence, the Friday Medal honors significant, distinguished and enduring contributions to education through advocating for innovation, advancing education…

A woman with short brown hair and a multicolored paisley blouse

Jul 24, 2024

2024 Friday Medal Awarded to SERVE Center Executive Director Maria Pitre-Martin

Raleigh, N.C. — The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation has selected Maria Pitre-Martin, executive director of the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro, to receive its 2024 Friday Medal award. “Dr.…

Image of four people standing in front of a lighted orange and red background. On each end are two female advisors in jackets. In the middle are two graduate students, one female and one male.

Nov 27, 2023

Friday Institute Selects 2023 Graduate Student Fellows

Each year, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation selects graduate students to become Friday Institute Graduate Student Fellows. Fellows are nominated by Friday Institute faculty fellows or directors and are…

Image of three people: two women on either side of Friday Medal recipient Tom Williams. Tom is a man in a suit and tie holding a medal in a black frame. The women on either side are both wearing blazers and are standing in front of a red background

Nov 22, 2023

2023 Friday Medal Ceremony Honors Longtime North Carolina Educator and Education Leader Tom Williams

Dedicated. Leader. Caring. When asked to describe Tom Williams, his colleagues and friends most commonly use these three words. On Thursday, Nov. 16, Williams, president of Strategic Educational Alliances, Inc.,…

Sep 27, 2023

2023 Friday Medal Ceremony

In recognition of the commitment of Bill and Ida Friday to educational excellence, the Friday Medal honors significant, distinguished and enduring contributions to education through advocating for innovation, advancing education…

Sep 7, 2023

2023 Friday Medal Awarded to North Carolina Educational Leader Tom Williams

Raleigh, N.C. — The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation has selected Tom Williams, president of Strategic Educational Alliances, Inc., to receive its 2023 Friday Medal award. “Tom is an exemplary…

Nov 18, 2022

Friday Medal Ceremony Celebrates Two Educators Advancing Equity Through Research and Teaching

On Monday, Nov. 14, the Friday Institute held a ceremony at its home on NC State’s Centennial Campus for the first time in four years to honor both an education researcher and practitioner who were selected to receive its Friday Medal.

Nov 17, 2022

Education NC: Two Friday Medals for 2022 celebrate equity in research and practice

For the first time since 2017, the William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at N.C. State’s College of Education recognized multiple honorees for its Friday Medal.

Sep 8, 2022

2022 Friday Medal to Honor Two Leaders in Education Research and Practice Together for the First Time

The Friday Institute has selected James A. Banks, the 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, and Joann Blumenfeld, founder and program director for Catalyst at The Science House, to receive its 2022 Friday Medal award.