Rae Ferriell-Woolpy, who has worked in local education for 51 years, is being saluted for inspiring youth.
Tickets are still on sale for Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County’s Smart Futures Dinner, set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Wayne County Fairgrounds’ First Bank Expo Center.
Former Indiana Fever player and WNBA champion Tamika Catchings, who also earned an Olympic gold medal, is guest speaker.
Ferriell-Woolpy, who currently is Richmond High School’s principal, began working at New Castle High School in 1973.
She taught and coached swimming for Hibberd Junior High School and Richmond High School and served as the first female athletic director for RHS and the North Central Conference.
During her coaching era, Ferriell-Woolpy was named State Coach of Year Runner-up, District Coach of Year, Sectional Coach of Year, and Conference Coach of Year. She led two teams to finish fourth in Indiana’s state meet and her swimmers won RHS’ first NCC championship.
She coached six high school All-Americans, six junior national qualifiers, one state champion, and 55 individuals/relays scoring in the top 16 at the state championship.
As an educator, she has received numerous awards including Richmond Community Schools Teacher of the Year, Indiana Association of Secondary Principals District 6 Assistant Principal of the Year, Richmond Altrusa Club’s Woman of Achievement Award, and Communities In Schools of Wayne County’s Champion of Education Award.
The $75 individual tickets for the dinner and optional upgrade for the VIP meet-and-greet are available through Oct. 3 at SmartFutures2024.eventbrite.com. Attire is “smart casual.”
The club serves nearly 2,000 children and teens at six locations in Pershing, Hagerstown and Richmond. For more information, visit bgcrichmond.org or call 765-962-6922.
A version of this article appeared in the September 25 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.