Three distinguished alumni of the historic Lincoln School were honored with the 2026 Lincoln School Light Award during the institution's landmark centennial celebration held in conjunction with Juneteenth.
The Lincoln School Project presented the honors to Shirley Ann Oaks Thompson, Crockett W. Oaks Jr. and Edna Hooper Fisher in recognition of their commitment to preserving and sharing their lived experiences as students at the city's former segregation-era school.
The Lincoln School Light Award honors individuals whose leadership, public service or historical preservation efforts illuminate the path for others. During the centennial year, organizers returned the award to its original source by recognizing the former students whose oral histories are now part of the permanent historical record.
Each honoree represents a unique chapter in the facility's history. Oaks Thompson, who now resides in Pennsylvania, attended Lincoln School for all eight years of her elementary education. Oaks Jr., a lifelong West Plains resident, attended the school for two years and has remained a dedicated local steward of its history by documenting community memories of life on "The Hill." Hooper Fisher, who currently lives in Oregon, attended the school for four years, and her return for the centennial marked her first visit back to West Plains since the late 1960s.
The evening also included a special presentation to the Forbes family, longtime community pillars recognized for their quiet, foundational support of the Lincoln School Project since its inception. Judy Forbes, a West Plains native and former resident, accepted a custom, commemorative replica of "Feel the Love," one of the two permanent bronze sculptures standing in the school's Reflection Plaza. The replica features original artwork hand-painted on its base by internationally acclaimed artist Dr. Bolaji Ogunwo, who also designed the permanent sculpture pedestals at the site.
“Their generosity has never sought recognition, yet it has impacted our vision, thus affected lives,” Executive Director Crockett W. Oaks III said. “Presenting them with 'Feel the Love' was our way of saying that the love they have shared has come full circle.”
A century after its doors first opened as a segregated facility, Lincoln School continues to operate as a preserved historical landmark dedicated to uniting neighbors and educating future generations.
