Margaret C. Wright Memorial Alumni Award
The Wright Alumni Award will recognize the work of a Gordon graduate who strives to live out their faith in Jesus while teaching in underserved communities, providing $10,000 to the alum and $10,000 to the school where he or she teaches. As a way to inspire future educators, the award will also sponsor the winner to return to Gordon’s campus to share her/his work with the Gordon community.
Gordon is pleased to announce the Margaret C. Wright Memorial Alumni Award. This award is in honor of Gordon alumna Margaret Wright, who graduated in 2017 with dual licensure in Early Childhood and English as a Second Language. The award honors her legacy as a Christ-follower and passion as a young kindergarten teacher at the Cornerstone Schools of Washington, D.C. Margaret lived out her love for Jesus as she sought to educate all children to reach their potential no matter where she was teaching.
2025 Wright Award Recipient
Claire Hoag
This year’s recipient of the Margaret C. Wright Memorial Alumni Award, Claire Hoag ’22 ’23M, teaches history and current events just 10 miles from Gordon, at the underserved community of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
“I am passionate about history education, almost to a fault,” shared Hoag. “But I recognize that my role is not limited to engaging students in historical inquiry. It encompasses creating a space where students feel seen, supported and empowered. [I’m reminded] daily that fostering their social-emotional growth is just as critical as academic instruction and integral to their academic success.”
Recipients of the Wright Award are given $10,000 for their school and $10,000 for their own use. With her award money Hoag plans to expand her school’s “Bull Market,” a resource center that provides students with everything from clothes to toiletries to prom attire, as well as programs to help with students’ food insecurity. “The goal is to create a space that feels like a real store, fostering a sense of pride rather than shame for students who utilize it.”
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