CHARLOTTE, N.C. — JeBrandon Oden is more than just a teacher to his students.
"Mr. Oden has a lot of wisdom," his student Salomon Aka said. "He’s a great teacher and a great person."
"He felt kind of like a best friend," another student Sui Tling said.
In our search for the next Hyundai Hometown Hero, WCNC Charlotte received numerous letters for the history teacher at Central Piedmont Early College.
Here are just a few of the nominations WCNC Charlotte got from his students:
- Mr. Oden is incredible. He makes everyone in the classroom comfortable, and he knows how to keep learning while having fun. His class is never boring, and I look forward to it every day.
- Mr. Oden deserves to be named the Hyundai Hometown Hero because of how great of a person he is. I see him as a hero everyday teaching my AP class.
- He is also there for us even outside of school. If a student is ever feeling down he goes out of his way to make sure that they are ok and that they don't fall behind. This is what makes him a hero in my eyes.
- Mr. Oden helped me mentally and emotionally when I was struggling in classes… He encouraged me throughout this whole academic school year.
- Mr. Oden is a wonderful teacher. He supports, loves, and provides for us all as if we were his true kids.
WCNC Charlotte wanted to give back to Oden.
"Can I call up Mr. Oden?" WCNC Charlotte's Anchor Sarah French asked. "I’m actually here to announce to you that you are our Hyundai Hometown Hero!"
Anthony Barreiro of South Charlotte Hyundai presented the keys to Oden.
"On behalf of all the local Hyundai dealers, we want to congratulate you with a brand-new Santa Fe," Barreiro said.
"Every teacher should be able to feel like this," Oden said. "I actually needed a new vehicle ... saving up to buy a house. I didn’t want to get another vehicle while I was saving up to buy a house."
"I wish I could say I was surprised, but I’m not," CPEC's principal Erik Turner admitted. "He’s a passionate educator. He’s the type of educator that I would want for my children."
Oden’s wife showed up to the surprise after he FaceTimed her to share the big news.
"I still have tears in my eyes right now," Robyn Oden said. "He’s so deserving of it. His whole life he’s dedicated to children."
"It’s amazing because he just deserves it so much," another CPEC teacher Danielle Van said. "If any teacher deserves it, he does."
"I can tell my kids, 'Look, when you do the right things, good things happen to you,'" Oden said. "I got a whole new car from people that don’t even know me."
"It's heartwarming, and I hope it is for everyone who gets the chance to participate in it," Barreiro said.
"As teachers, our primary goal is to affect the future," Oden explained. "We don’t look for monetary things. And to be rewarded with a whole brand new vehicle is something that is unbelievable."
Contact Sarah French at Sarah@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.