Held Monday night at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, the evening was a night of celebration and recognition in education, highlighting the exemplary achievements of more than 60 teachers and students both in and out of the classroom. .
The 32nd Annual Excellence in Education Awards, sponsored by the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and sponsored by Breeze Newspapers, emphasizes the importance of dedicated educators and recognizes the academic commitment of continuing education to high school seniors. supported.
Students and teachers at the elementary, middle school, high school and college levels were recognized representing the West Zone of the Lee County School District, which includes Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.
“For the past 32 years, the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce has recognized outstanding educators and students.” said Donna Germain, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. “We will also use this opportunity to provide scholarships to local graduates as they embark on the next step in their educational journey.”
This year's keynote speaker was Jill Clausing, a close reading teacher at Dunbar High School, who is the 2024 Lee County Golden Apple recipient.
Clausing, a Cape Coral resident, holds a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and a master's degree in reading education from Florida Gulf Coast University. she told her students “Option B” When the first option didn't work.
Recognized students and educators received plaques to commemorate their outstanding efforts, and high school and college students each received a scholarship along with hardware.
“Education and leadership are critical components of a successful community.” Germain said. “As a Chamber, we continually seek ways to recognize and encourage educators and students as leaders in our communities. is essential for the development of
This year, the Chamber Education Committee was able to offer additional scholarships than previous years.
Outstanding high school seniors and technical college winners were each awarded $500 scholarships, and another group of high school students received $1,000 scholarships.
A special scholarship was awarded to a junior leadership student in the name of program founder Cindy Gallagher, who passed away from cancer in 2018. This year's recipient was Jared Huey.
“Jared's sense of community and volunteerism were outstanding.” Germain said. “He donates his time to Donald McDonald House, Gulf Coast Humane Society and Camelot Community Care.”
An exception from Huey's essay is: “I am thinking about my future career, and although I was not clear about it for a long time, I am now certain that I want to be a teacher. Because I realize that the many teachers I have had, for better or worse, have shaped much of my current worldview. , a job that I recognize is severely lacking in most states, and I don't know of many other ways I can contribute to my community more impactfully than by shaping its future. I hope to use the lessons I teach tomorrow's community members and leaders to contribute to a better place.”
Germain added: “We would like to thank Breeze Newspapers for their great partnership on this event over the years, and the Cape Coral Kiwanis Club, Cape Coral, for their wonderful support in recognizing these events. I would also like to thank the Rotary Club of Coral Foundation, the Guardian Angels for Special Populations, our wonderful educators and students, the Chamber of Commerce staff and school committee, and our sponsors for putting on a great event. A special thank you to everyone. I can't wait for next year.” Here is the complete list of winners (in order of students, then teachers):
• Calusa Elementary School: Adam Scosick and Alison Randall.
• Cape Elementary School: Caleb Phelps and Gladys Gomez.
• Diplomat Elementary School: Arthur Castillo Almenare and Natalie Nauss-Aldrich.
• Gulf Elementary School: Jacob Melvin and Kelly Slover.
• Hancock Creek Elementary School: Lily Ball and Gail Cummings.
• Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School: Alia Patrick and Jennifer Hernandez Torres.
• Oasis Charter Elementary North: Alyssa Sophia Arzeto and Joy Valente.
• Oasis Charter Elementary South: Eva Barnes and Debra Lee.
• Patriot Elementary School: Leah Camacho and Johnny Nordal.
• Pelican Elementary School: Greta Van Gaalen and Peggy Stamper.
• Pine Island Elementary School: Finn Stevens and Melinda Sue Nelson
• Skyline Elementary School: Oscar Herrera and Kathleen Jones.
• Trafalgar Elementary School: Lily Koza and Deborah DiTommaso.
• Calusa Middle School: Kaldai Battle and Jackie Kustek.
• Challenger Middle School: Ethan Alexander and Christina Williams.
• Christian Life Academy: McKenna Curzio, Tabor Van Horn.
• Diplomacy Middle School: Addison Berry and Quinn Schnabel
• Gulf Middle School: Amira Habash and Katie Scibetta.
• Mariner Middle School: Penelope Serantes and Lisa Kurzaritz.
• Midcape Global Academy: Braylen Thomas and Yance Duque.
• North Fort Myers Academy of the Arts: Scarlett Oliva and Jill Cook.
• Oasis Middle School: Mason Ballentine and Crystal Martin.
• St. Andrew Catholic School: Jesse Marie Metz and Yania Martinez.
• Trafalgar Middle School: Kyle Reinschmidt and Jennifer Kennedy.
• Cape Coral High School: Ella Bernard and Eduardo Ortega.
• Ida Baker High School: Alexander Dingerson and Kayla Rill.
• Island Coast High School: Eva DeAngelo and Joe Maron.
• Mariner High School: Jada Kohlmeyer and Carlos Cook.
• North Fort Myers High School: Gisele Leon and Sarah Johnson Scalisi.
• Oasis High School: Jasmine Little and Jack Concannon.
• Cape Coral Institute of Technology: Stephanie Wolfe and Mary Ann Enns.
• Ida S. Baker High School: Alexander Dingerson, $1,000 scholarship recipient.
• Oasis High School: Tyler Feichthaler, $1,000 scholarship recipient.
• Mariner High School: Camden Lucas, $1,000 scholarship recipient.
• Oasis High School: Janelle Octavian, $1,000 scholarship recipient.
• Mariner High School: Sorina Ellard, $1,000 scholarship recipient.
• Ida Baker High School: Joan Haggerty, $1,000 scholarship recipient.
• Oasis High School: Valentina Calleja Lamarque, $1,000 scholarship recipient.
• Oasis High School: Jessica Hay, $1,000 scholarship recipient.
• Island Coast High School: Jared Huey, Cynthia Gallagher Jr. Leadership $1,000 Scholarship Recipient