Habersham Central High School French teacher Stacy Finelli was recognized and given an special award at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. She was nominated by Wes McGee – who received a commendation from one student’s parents – and was chosen for the “Extra Mile Award.”
Finelli’s “Extra Mile” of service took place when she escorted a group of Habersham Central students on a trip to Europe during spring break. Student Maddie Moore, daughter of Sean and Rhonda Moore, developed a serious kidney infection during the trip and was hospitalized for 6 days in a Parisian hospital after a visit to an emergency room there.
Maddie’s parents said the episode was a “nightmare” with their daughter in a foreign country, suffering from a “potentially life-threatening illness.” Finelli chose to stay with Maddie during the entire time she was in the hospital. The Moores said that Finelli was “compassionate, understanding, calm, positive, and meticulous in all that she did” while with Maddie all six days.
The Moores said they cannot adequately thank Finelli for her selfless service to their daughter and for the fact that she “truly had things in hand.” They praised her as “an asset to our students and school system.”
For her actions during the student trip to Europe, Finelli was given the Extra Mile Award for a certified employee from the Board of Education at their regular monthly meeting.
