Beating the Odds
The Golden Apple Award winners excelled in a difficult year By Bre Offenberger
E
very teacher deserves a pat on the back for the punches they readily rolled with this year, but 14 Golden Apple Award recipients especially shone during one of the most devastating and taxing times in modern history. Students and parents recognized that, too. The Upper Arlington Civic Association, in its 40th year giving out the awards, received an influx of letters during its nomination process, which runs The winners of the 2021 Golden Apple Awards are Kristin Bugnitz, Sarah Oberlin, Jennifer Barrow, Cristina Farbizo, Dr. Kathy Moore, Irene Hunt, Gina Rancitelli, Sarah Cappel, Caren Wildman, Darrion House, Brenda Porter, Luna Alsharaiha, from January to Michelle Marshall and Matt Brown. February. Jennifer Knueven, director of the UACA’s Golden Apple cial COVID Award. Knueven and UACA members looked first Awards, says she collected and read 486 letters. There were so at online learning before scouring the faculty who sought to many, and they were all so long, that they didn’t even fit in her safeguard students. Letters had been pouring in for COVID-19 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Nurse Coordinator Gina Rancitelli, who eventually took the “They were full-blown letters, stating how teachers helped award home. their child,” Knueven says. “We have students who were de“She had a lot of people write in saying, ‘This is an impospressed. They wrote in and said how this teacher listened to sible job, and she did a fantastic job and worked seven days a them and helped them.” week, 12 hours a day and took it all in stride,’” Knueven says. Since the recipients are chosen solely based off nomiThis new category wasn’t the only difference. As Knueven nations, Knueven was determined to read all of the letters, read letter after letter, she found there was more of one key eleshe says. Since UACA expanded its awards from recognizing ment than in years prior: passion. three teachers to 13 across all of Upper Arlington’s schools, “Faculty members (were) saying, ‘These teachers are workthe process became slightly easier as more of the nominees ing around the clock to make the school safer and helping chilcould be recognized. dren,’” Knueven says. “I think before, you just had, ‘Oh, I think Though it’s a time-consuming affair, it’s worth it to see this teacher is great,’ where, this year, it’s like, ‘Here’s how. Here’s the end product, Knueven says. To her, the inundation of why.’ People even sent in videos. People were very passionate letters proved how much faculty deserve these awards more about it this year.” than ever – which is why UACA added a 14th recipient to its list this year. Bre Offenberger is an editorial assistant. Feedback welcome at While figuring out who should receive the District Award, feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com. which eventually went to Director of Nutritional Services Irene Hunt, the UACA decided to introduce the one-time-only Spe-
July/August 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com
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