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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 1999

News Release

NEA Honors Hillary Clinton with Friend of Education Award

Orlando, FL - The National Education Assocation (NEA) will honor First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton with the association's highest honor - the Friend of Education Award - at NEA's 137th Representative Assembly at approximately 12:00 noon on July 5. The annual award recognizes individuals whose leadership, acts, and support have raised the level of excellence in American education.

"Hillary Rodham Clinton has worked tirelessly on behalf of children and public education from the schoolhouse to the statehouse to the White House and around the globe. Her work, her voice, and her vision have inspired and enlightened us all about the important role we must play in raising children. She is truly a friend of education," said Chase, who will present the award to the First Lady before the more than 9,000 educators who are delegates to the July 3-6 meeting.

Chase will reflect on Mrs. Clinton's lifelong devotion to children. As First Lady, she has continued to be an outspoken champion of public schools, calling for "a public education system that works for every single child."

"Throughout her career she has spoken passionately about the need to reduce class size, repair school buildings and build new ones, ensure safer schools and set high standards," said Chase. "She has fought for expansion of after-school programs and pre-school programs so that children are both prepared and able to get the extra help they need.

"She spearheaded an ambitious effort to increase childhood immunizations, pushed for an expansion of children's health insurance coverage, and raised awareness about the impact of tobacco on children. Across the globe, Mrs. Clinton also serves as an ambassador for education and social justice, calling upon countries to teach their children well - and to afford girls the same academic opportunities as boys," Chase said.

As First Lady of Arkansas, Mrs. Clinton founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. In 1996 as First Lady of the United States, she wrote the book It Takes a Village - a rallying cry on behalf of children. In 1997, the First Lady, along with the President, hosted an national conference on early childhood development and learning, where experts emphasized that the success children have in reaching their full potential is influenced by what they experience during their first years of life.

Mrs. Clinton was nominated for the Friend of Education Award by a member of the LaMar County, Ala. Education Association, and is the only First Lady ever to receive the award. Last year's winner was Georgia Gov. Zell Miller; previous winners include President Lyndon B. Johnson (NEA's first winner in 1972); U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (1979); the late Christa McAuliffe (1986); Rhode Island Sen. Claiborne Pell (1990); education writer Jonathan Kozol (1992); and President Bill Clinton (1996).

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.4 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.