GREENWOOD (Feb. 3) -- Many teachers get into the profession because they want to inspire young minds, but most teachers probably aren't told by their students just how profound their influence can be.

Friday, former Merrywood Elementary School teacher Myrna Dove Franklin was afforded that opportunity.

One of her former first grade students, Karen Petit, now a children's book author, presented Franklin with the inaugural "Ivy Inspiration Award" during a presentation at Merrywood Elementary, in recognition of Franklin's inspiration and creativity as an educator.

"The lessons Mrs. Franklin taught me have lasted a lifetime," Petit said. "I am so proud of the public school education I received in Greenwood."

Franklin was contacted by Petit and invited to come to the school, but the award was kept a secret until the end of the program.

"She (Karen) called me, and told me she had written a book and wanted to acknowledge me, but I had no idea about the award," Franklin said. "It's wonderful. It's not often people have moments like this."

Franklin, with tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes, looked at Petit and said, "You put an extra spark in my life."

Franklin, who taught school for nine years, including her two years at Merrywood, is now a real estate agent in Charlotte.

She said Petit was "a delight to teach."

"I'm extremely proud of her (Karen)," Franklin said.

Franklin's sisters, JoAnn Gray and Jackie Puckett of Greenwood, and Nancy Crews of Darien, Ga. were in attendance at Friday's program for the presentation of the Ivy Inspiration Award, along with a room full of elementary students, and teachers, as well as Petit's father and sister.

Petit, the author, said she was just five and a half years old when she began first grade in Franklin's class.

"It wasn't long before I learned to read, thanks to Mrs. Franklin," Petit said. "Learning to read has opened so many doors for me."

Petit said words were "magical" to her, and turned a love of reading into a love of writing. She credited Franklin for making that happen, and presented her with an engraved cup Friday.

"Today is the fulfillment of my dream," Petit said. "I came to Merrywood eager to learn and excited to be in school, and maybe that was because I had a wonderful teacher who was dedicated to each of her students and worked so hard to make sure we were well-prepared for the many years of education we had ahead of us."

Petit said Franklin's students have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, business leaders, parents, dancers, musicians and writers.

"Great teachers inspire us to find our dreams and then live those dreams," Petit said. "My dream was to share my love of words with others."

Petit, 50, is the author of the "Shandon's Ivy League" mystery series, whose heroine is a crime-solving Labrador retriever/Chow mix named Ivy, based on Petit's own dog.

Petit came up with the idea for the "Ivy Inspiration Award" as a way to honor Franklin for teaching her how to read and for encouraging her and other students to read beyond what was assigned in class.

"This award is to be presented every year to a South Carolina teacher who inspires reading and creativity in her students," Petit said.

During the program, Petit also read excerpts from the first book in her children's mystery series, "The Mystery of the Screecher Creature" and took questions from the audience about the writing process.

The book is available locally at McCaslan's Book Store, and online through Amazon.com, as well as The Happy Bookseller and EdVenture Children's Museum in Columbia.

In addition to being an author, Petit works in media relations for the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She is also a former section editor for The Index-Journal. Petit is the daughter of retired dentist Dr. Edward L. Petit and the late Helen Leaman Petit, who was a teacher.

Karen is a 1974 graduate of Greenwood High School and is a 1977 graduate of the University of South Carolina.