We surprised educators in Maryland and Michigan last week as we kicked off our LifeChanger of the Year awards season.
Keishia Thorpe is a 12th grade teacher and track and field head coach at International High School Langley Park in Maryland. And Tarence Wheeler is director of corporate and community affairs at River Rouge Schools outside Detroit.
Both were treated to surprise pop-up ceremonies to alert them that they are finalists for this year’s LifeChanger grand prize.
Keishia was recognized for being a role model and advocate for her students, many of whom are struggling with the English language as recent immigrants.
In addition to helping them improve their English skills and their grades, she helps them prepare for college and earn athletic scholarships.
She co-founded the U.S. Elite International Track and Field Inc. nonprofit, which gives student-athletes who are considered “at-risk” an opportunity to go to college and graduate debt-free.
National Life’s Jay Dunlap, center, and Norlena Brown, right, of GLP & Associates, present the LifeChanger award to Tarence Wheeler at a basketball game.
Tarence was awarded for his commitment to alleviating obstacles faced by his students and the community, which he says can be barriers to their education.
He organizes an event that distributes 5,000 turkey baskets during Thanksgiving, provides feminine hygiene products to students who need them, created a partnership that helps families pay utility bills, and runs a clinic to help parents expunge criminal convictions from their records.
As grand prize finalists, both Keishia and Tarence have already won at least a $5,000 cash prize, which will be split evenly between themselves and their schools. And they’re also in the running for the $10,000 grand prize.
They will travel to our annual Conference of Champions in Hawaii in May, where the top prizes are awarded.