The School
of Education honored four outstanding alumni at its
fourth-annual Distinguished Alumni Awards May 13:
• James Merrill ’91 EdD received the Outstanding
Achievement Award. The superintendent of Alamance-Burlington
School System since 2000, he was named Superintendent
of the Year 2004-05 by the N.C. School Boards Association
and the N.C. Association of School Administrators.
A Morehead Scholar, Merrill received a bachelor’s
degree in education from UNC Chapel Hill in 1973 and
a master’s in educational administration from
Appalachian State University in 1982.
• John “Jack” Schmidt ’80
EdD received the Distinguished Career Award. Schmidt
teaches in the counseling and adult education department
at East Carolina University and served as department
chairman 1989-2002. The N.C. School Counselor Association
awarded him the Ruth C. McSwain Distinguished Professional
Service Award in 2002. In 2000, he received the Scholar-Teacher
Award from ECU. He earned a bachelor’s in sociology
in 1968 and a master’s in teaching social studies
and guidance in 1970, both at St. Michael’s
College.
• Alicia Tate ’04 MEd received the Early
Career Award. The director of special education for
Scotland County Schools, she earned her certification
as an exceptional needs specialist from the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She mentors
new teachers and participates in the N.C. Council
for Quality Teaching. The N.C. Department of Public
Instruction named her a Teacher of Excellence in 2003.
She earned a bachelor’s in special education
from ECU in 1989.• Richard Thompson ’79
EdD received the Distinguished Career Award. Under
his leadership as vice president for university-school
programs, the University of North Carolina system
has used K-16 partnerships to improve teacher quality,
recruitment and retention. Thompson previously served
at the state superintendent for Mississippi. The governor
of North Carolina awarded him The Order of the Long
Leaf Pine in 1998. He earned an associate’s
degree from Chowan College in 1961, a bachelor’s
from Elon College in 1964 and a master’s in
education from UNC Charlotte in 1974.
