The 2008 Eddy awardees are role models in public education. Collectively, they represent the many facets of the region's public education success legacy. They join a distinguished group of prior recipients including three-time Olympic gold medalist and high profile women's basketball coach Dawn Staley (2007), Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter/ poet/actress Jill Scott (2006), the late philanthropist and civic leader Stanley Tuttleman (2005) and Governor Edward G. Rendell (2007) among others.