Whataburger served up a Whatasized surprise to Eastlake High School teacher Thomas Medina, who was awarded a $1,000 WhataTeacher grant for his exceptional impact on students' education.
Medina, a social studies teacher, was presented with a Whatasized check on May 9 during National Teacher Appreciation Week in the school’s auditorium.
“It was such a big surprise, I left my Whatacookie on the floor and forgot to pick it up,” a beaming Medina said.
To celebrate its 75th anniversary, Whataburger awarded $1,000 classroom grants to 75 educators, totaling $75,000 in funding for local students across its 16-state area. The WhataTeacher grants highlight the outstanding teachers who go above and beyond to make a meaningful impact in their schools and communities.
Tania Moran, regional field marketing manager for Whataburger at region 1300, said Medina was chosen for the award for the way he connected with students in his classroom to help them succeed.
“We got over 50 nominations for Mr. Thomas Medina when we put out this initiative in El Paso, and every single one of the students mentioned that he has a unique way of making them understand history,” Moran said. “Every single one of these students said that he made them feel like they were a part of history. He made them understand why it's important to know history so that way we don't repeat it.”
Medina said the award belonged to his students and their commitment to excellence.
“The kids really deserve all the credit. They're the ones who put in the work every day. So, I'm the lucky recipient,” said Medina, who also received a backpack full of Whataburger gear.
Medina said the funds will be used to benefit the students. After all, teaching has enabled him to make a meaningful difference in the community.
“Teaching to me is giving back to the community and building the community, building relationships,” Medina said. “I literally live less than a mile from here, so I specifically chose this school to work at because I wanted to be part of the community.”