Pinay who grew up poor in Philippines gets Oklahoma Medal of Excellence

A Filipina doctor who learned hard work from growing up poor in the Philippines has recently received the Oklahoma Medal of Excellence in Teaching at a Research University.

Photo courtesy of Oklahoma State University

Dr. Edralin Lucas, a nutritional sciences professor at the Oklahoma State University (OSU), was nominated for the medal after she receiving the OSU Regents Distinguished Teaching Award recognizing her excellence in teaching courses ranging from entry-level human nutrition to graduate-level macronutrients.

According to OSU, the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence awards are presented annually by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence to honor exceptional and innovative educators in Oklahoma’s public K-12 schools and universities.

“Dr. Lucas is an amazing faculty member, researcher, and individual,” said Stephen Clarke, head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at OSU.

A colleague, Brenda Smith, described Lucas as “understanding, yet holds students accountable.”

“She communicates the importance of values, including hard work, striving for excellence, compassion as well as personal and professional integrity,” Smith said.

Lucas, who has been teaching for 30 years, credited her experiences living in a poor family in the Philippines for teaching her the value of hard work.

“I grew up in the Philippines, and we were poor. So I’m used to working hard,” she said.

“I don’t want to be wasting my students’ time, and I try to live what I’m preaching. I tell them, ‘If I tell you to work hard, I want you to expect me to work hard, too,’” added Lucas, who also holds the Jim and Lynne Williams Endowed Professorship

“My students feel like I care,” Lucas said. “That’s the common theme.”

The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is a private foundation founded by former U. senator David L. Boren to encourage and recognize academic excellence in Oklahoman public schools. --KBK, GMA News