What do a Chattanooga local and first lady Michelle Obama have in common? Well, for one, they’re both officially the recipients of the prestigious Excellence in Education Award.
Stacy Lightfoot, Public Education Foundation (PEF) vice president of college and career success, was presented with this year’s award during the 72nd annual National Association for College Admission Counseling in Columbus, Ohio.
She was recognized as being “a champion for underrepresented students,” through her years of dedication in improving and serving the Hamilton County public school system in a wide variety of roles over the last 16 years.
A Hamilton County public school alumna herself, Lightfoot has worked as the Director of Outreach at the College Access Center, as a college counselor at multiple local schools and as the director of career development at Girls Inc.
The annual award is given to an individual who has improved the field of education and, over the course of her career, Lightfoot has touched the lives of thousands of local students.