Another educator was revealed this week as a finalist for the LifeChanger of the Year grand prize award.
Brian Copes, who is a pre-engineering teacher at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama, is the last of the five Grand Prize Finalists to be treated to a surprise announcement of his award.
He’ll get at least $5,000, half to him and half to his school. One of the finalists will get $10,000 when the grand prize is announced at Conference of Champions in Bermuda next month.
Copes has an innovative approach to teaching his students the real-world results from what they’re learning. He once taught eighth-grade students to build basic utility vehicles to transport goods and services in poorer countries.
His students have also developed inexpensive prosthetic legs from automotive parts. The students’ prosthetic legs have been refined and are mass producible at $40 each. He has led four teams of students and teachers to the jungles of Honduras, where they have not only delivered the basic utility vehicles, but have fitted 20 amputees with student-created prosthetic legs.
Another educator in Alabama was also recognized this week as one of our 10 national LifeChanger of the Year award winners.
Melanie Lee, registrar at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, wins $3,000 to be split with her school.
Her school is a public, but highly selective fine arts specialty school. Many children and parents are intimidated by the application process.
She holds hands and guides children, working with social workers, immigration officials, foundation officers, struggling single moms, and so many others to find ways to create paths for students to get into the school and succeed there.
