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A Token of Appreciation

Five unique ideas for saying thank you to your advisor

A Token of Appreciation

Covington, Tenn., FFA advisors enjoy a fun night out, courtesy of their members.



March 2008

Advisors invest so much in their FFA students – staying after school to train teams, spending summers at weeklong camps or going to fairs – that members often develop a special bond with them.

Many chapters take advantage of the annual spring banquet to thank their advisors. But how about some additional, more memorable ways to let your advisor know just how much you appreciate all he or she does?

Last May, as a year-end appre­ciation gift, FFA members in Covington, Tenn., chipped in to give their three advisors – Bryan Cole, Liz Flanagan and Ted Turner – a gift certificate to a nice steakhouse in Memphis. Then-senior Mary Jean Hall had been given a certificate for a limousine ride to use for the prom, but she thought it would send their advisors’ gift “over the top” to donate the limo ride, too.

“It was Mr. Turner’s last year (after nearly 40 years as an FFA advisor), so we wanted it to be extra-special,” Mary Jean says.

She adds that Covington FFA students try to thank their advisors every day, but take special oppor­tunities, such as a big breakfast on Teacher Appreciation Day, to go out of their way to say thanks.

Here are a few more ideas:

1. Personalize it!
Traditional teacher gifts such as coffee mugs and books mean even more when inscribed with a personal message from students. One class bought their teacher a new white
lab coat, then decorated and wrote messages on it with fabric pens.

2. Record it!
You can make a keepsake DVD that captures the moment by filming chapter members’ live thank-you messages with a digital camera and saving them to a disk.

3. Write it!
Create a letter your advisor will treasure forever. Jot down some specific ways he or she made a difference in your life or cite a particular memory you have from the past year.

4. Print it!
Put your appreciation in print by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, praising your advisor’s hard work and dedication. Or, take out an ad telling your advisor – and the whole community – how great he or she is.

5. Visit!
If you’re a former FFA member, surprise your past advisor with a visit, and thank him or her personally.

Story by Carol Cowan


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