Ten Local Teachers Honored for Excellence in Teaching
Annual Golden Apple Award Salutes Commitment to Catholic Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ten teachers from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Washington were honored for their excellence in teaching and commitment to Catholic education. They were recognized yesterday evening by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington at the 10th annual Golden Apple Awards dinner at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. Father Kevin Regan, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Hillcrest Heights, was the master of ceremonies for the evening.
The Golden Apple Award was created by the Pittsburgh-based Donahue Family Foundation whose founders, Jack and Rhodora Donahue, sent their 13 children to Catholic schools. Eager to express their deep appreciation to Catholic school teachers, the award was created to honor teachers for providing a quality academic and faith-filled education.
The teachers honored yesterday in the Archdiocese of Washington were nominated by their colleagues, students and school parents for exemplifying the best in instructional strategies, Catholic identity and knowledge of curriculum. The award recipients received a $5,000 prize along with a golden apple and certificate.
The 2018 Golden Apple Award winners:
- Louisa Dwyer, Sixth Grade teacher at St. Jerome Academy, Hyattsville
- Paula Farina, Music teacher at St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
- Mary Hay, Special Education Teacher at St. Philip the Apostle School, Camp Springs
- Thomas Kolar, Religion Teacher at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Olney
- Kelly Nichols, Second Grade Teacher at St. Peter School, Olney
- Paul O’Brien, Religion Teacher at Bishop McNamara High School, Forestville
- Wendy Slay, Fourth Grade Teacher at St. Mary School, Bryantown
- Jennifer Whelan, Science and Mathematics Teacher at St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
- Lauren Wisniewski, Special Education Teacher at Holy Redeemer School, College Park
- Jacquelyn Wolfgram, First Grade Teacher at St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
A video created by the archdiocese honoring the teachers was shown at the awards dinner: https://youtu.be/q_PEXwHJOKs.
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