As the end of the year approaches, there comes a time where the community is asked to recognize the teachers of Beaver County.
On Thursday May 12, the Golden Apple Gala was held at the Prevention Network and CLASS Academy in Baden. Mrs. Maria Porter, Mr. Bradley Baldwin, Mr. Aaron Fitzpatrick, Ms. Joy Crouch, Mrs. Lauren Harley, Mrs. Angela Post, Mr. Ron Miller and Mr. Jim Gregg gathered to celebrate their work at Freedom.
At the reception, these nine teachers and many others from around Beaver County were recognized for their work throughout the year. During the reception, a group of teachers were given different awards for different achievements. Then, there were three top-educators awards given. There was one teacher from kindergarten to fourth grade, fifth to eighth grade and ninth to twelfth grade.
The Prevention Network started to bring the community together and get everyone the education that they deserve. One way that they accomplish this task is to have the Golden Apple Gala and support the teachers of Beaver County in helping everyone get their education.
The Golden Apple Gala was started by the Prevention Network to allow the community to recognize and thank the teachers within the county. This dinner has been around for many years and teachers from high school and college can be nominated. Beaver County isn’t the only area to do this either, many other states across the country partake in the Golden Apple Gala as well. There were three Freedom teachers in the high school who were nominated last year and one of the elementary teachers actually won the Golden Apple Award.
The three nominees from the high school were picked when PAC got together and voted. These three nominees were each given a certificate of recognition for being a nominee for the top-educator award.
The top-educator award is given to the teachers who have consistently shown their hard work, excellence and their perseverance in education.
At the ceremony on Thursday night, all nine of the teachers were recognized as being nominated for the Golden Apple Award. The M.C. started out with the K-4 grade teacher and announced the runner up and the winner. Then, they announced the middle school category where Miller was announced as the runner up for the Golden Apple Award. Finally, the last category, the high school category, was announced. They announced Fitzpatrick as the Golden Apple award winner. To honor Fitzpatrick, Mr. William Deal, Seniors Reilly Collins and Brianna Frashure talked about why they nominated Fitzpatrick and why he deserved to win.
The evening ended with great merriment as Fitzpatrick was honored with the Golden Apple Award and as many Freedom school teachers were celebrated for their hard work and dedication.