Ten Local Teachers Honored for Excellence in Teaching

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Annual Golden Apple Award Salutes Commitment to Catholic Education

WASHINGTON – Ten teachers from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Washington are being honored for their excellence in teaching and commitment to Catholic education. They will be recognized by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, on Wednesday, May 11 at the eighth annual Golden Apple Awards dinner at the Mayflower Hotel in Northwest Washington.

The teachers 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 receive a $5,000 prize along with a golden apple and certificate.

The awards were announced by surprising the teachers at their respective schools this last week. Students, fellow teachers, administrators, parents and family members were on hand as representatives from the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Washington came to the schools to personally inform them of their selection.

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 awards will be presented by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington.

The 2016 Golden Apple Award winners are:

Maureen Mullen Detrick   
Father Andrew White School, Leonardtown
middle school religion & English teacher    
Marianne Green  
Holy Trinity School, Washington
middle school religion & English teacher    
Mark Hammett  
St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
middle school religion teacher
Christina Harrington  
Holy Redeemer School, College Park
fourth grade teacher
Gretchen Hochhausler   
Our Lady of Victory School, Washington
middle school math & science teacher
Julia Kelly  
Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, Lanham
art teacher 
Kathy Miller 
St. Jude Regional Catholic School, Rockville
middle school English teacher   
Erin Morris Bright  
DeMatha Catholic High School, Hyattsville
theology teacher   
Tricia Morrison    
St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
first grade teacher
John Olon  
St. Mary’s Ryken High School, Leonardtown
theology teacher

For insights into the surprise celebrations at the schools, visit the #GoldenApple Twitter feed by @WashArchdiocese.

###

The Archdiocese of Washington is home to over 620,000 Catholics, 139 parishes and 95 Catholic schools, located in Washington, D.C., and five Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s.

Contact:
Chieko Noguchi or Lindsey Frechou
301-853-4516
[email protected]