After an intensive application process, with competition from educators of Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico, English teacher Lee Naughton was one of 16 teachers to receive the prestigious R.E.B Award for Teaching Excellence. The R.E.B. Award provides grants ranging from $4,000 to $12,000 for teachers to use in any way that enriches their professional experiences and abilities in the classroom. Naughton will use her grant to travel to Key West, Cuba, and Spain to immerse herself in the life and legacy of one of the greatest voices of the "Lost Generation," Ernest Hemingway.

When Naughton was nominated by former student Brenna Crawford, she was one of 156 nominees. For the first aspect of the application, she has to provide evidence of effective classroom strategies, measurements of student progress and her specific contributions to the success of a student. Two months later, she discovered her place among the 32 finalists. She and the other finalists were then required to submit written proposals for their intended enrichment activities.

On November 12, Naughton and 15 other educators officially received the R.E.B. Award. Throughout the daunting application process, Naughton received guidance from her co-workers.

"Ms. Wadsworth was a great supporter," Naughton said.

Spanish teacher Wendy Wadsworth – a past recipient of the award – was a source of firsthand knowledge of the entire process. Additionally, English teacher Frannie McMillan provided suggestions and criticisms of Naughton’s written proposal.

When it came to choosing a subject to study, author Ernest Hemingway and his influential body of twentieth century American literature seemed an easy choice for Naughton. While in her junior year of high school, she was assigned Hemingway’s "The Old Man and the Sea," a novel that almost immediately deceived her expectations and her initial hope of disliking it. Santiago, the novel’s central character, proved to be far more interesting than the average aging fisherman.

"I really like the character of Santiago. He has such resolve. I think we can learn a lot from him," Naughton said.

Though "The Old Man and the Sea" is not her favorite work of Hemingway’s, it was perhaps the most life-altering.

"‘The Old Man and the Sea’ essentially sealed my fate as an English teacher," Naughton said.

Naughton’s exploration of Hemingway’s life will begin in Key West, where she will attend the annual Hemingway Days Festival. The festival celebrates Hemingway’s lifestyle and literary legacy though fishing competitions and readings. From there, she plans to visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, where Hemingway wrote the final draft of "A Farewell to Arms."

Since the recent reduction of travel restrictions to Cuba, Naughton will be afforded the opportunity to visit one of the most important residences of Hemingway, Finca La Vigia. She hopes to gain insight into the socio-political factors leading to Hemingway’s final departure from Cuba in 1960. She will then visit Cojimar, the setting of "The Old Man and the Sea."

Next year, Naughton will travel to Spain, a country of significant personal importance to Hemingway, and consequently, his work. She will begin her trip in Madrid, which Hemingway frequented many times in his life. She will subsequently visit Pamplona for the Festival of San Fermin. During the festival, which Hemingway popularized in his first novel "The Sun Also Rises," Naughton plans to participate in the famous Running of the Bulls.

Through her exploration of the life of Hemingway, Naughton will undoubtedly gain a more intimate understanding of the author who played such an integral role in her career as an English teacher.