After working as a South English and speech teacher as well as Theater South director for over 30 years, Catharine Rademacher is ready to enjoy her retirement. Specifically, she wanted to travel. She discovered the Roads Scholars organization, which offers guided trips throughout the world, and an award called the Educator Legacy Award. According to the Road Scholars website, this award celebrates a “remarkable retiring educator who has left a lasting legacy on the lives of their students.” 

Rademacher said that as a teacher, she tried to develop connections and create a safe environment for students to be vulnerable. Knowing she would be a strong candidate for the Legacy award, Rademacher asked her former students, colleagues, and friends to nominate her. 

Since Rademacher retired last year, she hoped that her impact had not been forgotten by the South community. To her pleasant surprise, she got over 50 nominations in total.

In late April, Rademacher found out that she won the award, granting her a $5,000 voucher to use on any trip she wanted. She decided to go to Peru to explore Incan ruins, including Machu Picchu. 

Rademacher described the nomination process as helping her “to actually reflect back on the years I was here and what kind of impact I made.” 

To express her gratitude towards those who nominated her she wrote in an email, “Thank you for reminding me that I made a lasting impression on their lives and their personal growth. Being a Panther and being part of this community has been the greatest honor of my life!”