Moak, Armstrong named 2018 HEADWAE honorees
William Carey University’s 2018 HEADWAE honorees Hannah Moak and Phyllis Armstrong were recognized at the annual luncheon on Feb. 20.
HEADWAE (Higher Education Appreciation Day, Working for Excellence) was established by legislative resolution to honor individual academic achievement and the overall contribution of the state’s public and private institutions of higher learning. The annual Appreciation Day, hosted by the legislature each February in Jackson, is the legislature’s way of saying “thank you” to these students and faculty for their commitment to the future of Mississippi.
Moak will graduate in May with a major in elementary education and minors in science and English; she currently has a 4.0 GPA. She is the daughter of Mike Moak and Kim Moak of Ruth and is a graduate of Parklane Academy in McComb. Moak is the recipient of various awards including the MAC academic achievement among athletes and she is a NFCA Scholar Athlete, SSAC softball scholar-athlete of the year, and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She is also part of the All-American SSAC All-Academic team and All-American CoSIDA academic first team. Moak serves on the SSAC Student Leadership Council and is on the President’s List. After graduation, Moak plans to move back to Ruth to begin teaching and possibly coaching. She also wants to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree.
Armstrong is an assistant professor and teacher education coordinator in the School of Education, where she has taught for the past 12 years. She has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2000 and was recertified in 2010. She graduated with a Master of Education in elementary education from The University of Southern Mississippi in 1976, and has since been awarded honors such as Teacher of the Year at North Forrest Elementary School and the Red Rose Award. She is affiliated with the International Literacy Association and the Mississippi Reading Association, serves as secretary for Phi Delta Kappa and president of Delta Kappa Gamma, where she is also on the board of trustees. Armstrong volunteers at the Edwards Street Fellowship Center, teaches Sunday school at Heritage United Methodist Church, and is a reading fair and science fair judge for various elementary schools. She is married to Norman Armstrong and has three children.
HEADWAEOn Appreciation Day, the honorees are invited to the State Capitol where they are welcomed by the lieutenant governor and recognized in each chamber of the legislature. A luncheon follows wherein each student and faculty honoree is recognized by name in front of their guests, institution leaders, corporate sponsors, and legislators.
The goal of the Appreciation Day is to encourage excellence among those involved in higher education as a way to further leadership, increase knowledge across the broad spectrum of education, promote good citizens capable of thriving in today's society, who are prepared to meet future challenges. To this end, one student and faculty honoree are annually selected from each of the 34 public and private member institutions of the Mississippi Association of Colleges to participate in the Appreciation Day activities.