Great Plains Technology Center teacher receives Medal for Excellence Award

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - A Service Careers Special Education Instructor at the Great Plains Technology Center (GPTC) in Lawton is one of the recipients of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence’s Medal for Excellence Awards.

Nadine Hanefield was one of five selected for the honor and is the recipient of the Medal for Excellence in Secondary Teaching.

Hanefield says respect is the foundation of her classroom.

“Every student, regardless of their challenges, has potential, and my role is to help them discover and develop it,” Hanefield said. “By fostering a safe, supportive, and skill-rich environment, I’ve seen students grow into capable, confident individuals ready for the world beyond the classroom.”

Hanefield helped establish a test which lets special education students demonstrate the industry skills they learned through the program and signifies they are job ready.

The GPTC teacher grew up in Sentinel before obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and two master’s degrees from Cameron University.

Hanefield was named Eisenhower Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2016. She helped teach Lawton Public Schools for a total of eight years.

“She teaches them to do things they never thought possible and to continue reaching for those stars after they have graduated,” said Cyndi Martin, whose daughter was one of Hanefield’s students.

The Oklahoma Foundation will honor the five Medal of Excellence recipients in May at their academic awards celebration in Oklahoma City. Each recipient will receive $5,000 and an etched glass sculpture.

The 2025 Medal for Excellence honorees are:

• Elementary Teaching: Leah McDonald, music teacher at Edmond Public Schools’ Heritage Elementary
• Secondary Teaching: Nadine Hanefield, service careers special education instructor at Great Plains Technology Center in Lawton
• Administration: Sherry Durkee, superintendent, Sand Springs Public Schools
• Regional University & Community College Teaching: Dr. April Haulman, education professor at the University of Central Oklahoma
• Research University Teaching: Dr. Jennifer Rudd, assistant professor of veterinary microbiology at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate these five impactful educators,” said Elizabeth Inbody, OFE executive director. “Each year, we have the honor of awarding one of the state’s most prestigious teaching awards to educators who do great things for our Oklahoma public school students and communities. We hope their passion and innovation will inspire and encourage others in their support of public education.”