Contact: Lauren Fernandez
817/607-0060
ARLINGTON, TEXAS (3/9/09) –Judy Scruggs, a Virginia elementary school teacher, has been honored with the Mensa Education & Research Foundation’s Distinguished Teacher Award. She was nominated for the award by a Mensa member and former student, Dr. Stephanie Elzy. Scruggs was Elzy’s second grade teacher, and taught her subjects such as reading, writing, spelling, English, mathematics, science and social studies.
In her nomination essay, Elzy wrote that Scruggs was “an exemplary teacher attuned to students’ intellectual and emotional needs,” and that “her greatest gift to me was music – she explained the meaning and value of notes, and I still utilize her instruction each time I play the harp, violin, piano or clarinet.”
The Distinguished Teacher Award recognizes a teacher, professor or instructor at any educational level who has had an especially positive influence on the education or life of a Mensa member. The educators can impact the Mensa members directly or as a result of their influence on the education of a dependent. The teacher selected for the award is presented with a lucite and a cash award from the Mensa Education & Research Foundation. The corresponding school receives a plaque. Previous winners can be viewed by visiting www.mensafoundation.org/teachers.
“To touch the lives of students is extremely rewarding, but also a profound responsibility,” said Scruggs. “Music has always been a passion of mine, and I often used it to teach certain concepts, as well as to expose students to types of music they might not encounter otherwise. My favorite part of teaching was when a student had an ‘aha moment.’ Hopefully, I didn't just teach, but tried to guide students to discoveries on their own.”
Scruggs received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Longwood College in Farmville, Va., in 1967. She taught for 33 years in various areas of Virginia, including Virginia Beach, Prince George County, Winchester and Charlottesville.
For more than 30 years, the Mensa Education & Research Foundation has been a strong voice in supporting intelligence. The Foundation fosters the best and brightest through scholarships and awards, and encourages research and intellectual inquiry through the Mensa Research Journal and various Colloquiums. Governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, the Mensa Foundation is a 501c(3) organization and is funded by support from American Mensa, Mensa members and other charitable donations. To learn more about the Foundation, log on to www.mensafoundation.org.