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Crystal Apple Awards Recognize Outstanding Contributions to Education in Tucson
The 18th Annual Crystal Apple Awards honored
individuals, businesses, and programs that contribute to excellence in
education in Tucson and Pima County.
The Crystal Apple Awards salute the effective relationships between
education and business and to acknowledge the outstanding models of
citizenship demonstrated by youth, adult, and corporate recipients. The
2008 Crystal Apple Award Honorees are:
- Lifetime Achievement Award - Greg Hart
- Youth Award - Jesse Kolb
- Teacher Award - Charles Gallagher
- Teacher Award - Krista Gypton
- Corporate Award - Freeport McMoRan, Inc. - Sierrita
2008 CRYSTAL APPLE AWARDS - RECIPIENT BIOS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT - Greg Hart:
Greg Hart began his career in adult basic education in 1977 at the
Liberty Adult Learning Center and was Director of Pima County Adult
Education from 1982 until 2000. He then served as Dean of Pima
Community College Adult Education (PCCAE) until his retirement in
October, 2007. PCCAE was selected in 1992 and again in 1999 by the U.S.
Secretary of Education for the U.S. Department of Education’s
Secretary’s Award given to the ten outstanding adult education
programs in the nation. In 1995, Mr. Hart founded Edge Charter School,
one of Arizona’s first nationally-accredited charter high schools
serving at-risk young people.
YOUTH AWARD - Jesse Kolb:
At 14 months of age, Jesse Kolb was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a
disease which affects the pancreas and lungs. He was placed on a
national transplant waiting list in 1999 and at the age of 10, was given
only a few weeks to live. In August 2002, he became the youngest
recipient of a double lung transplant. Jesse now volunteers on behalf
of the Transplant Team of Arizona and the Donor Network of Arizona. He
also volunteers at the University Of Arizona Medical Center talking to
patients and families waiting for an organ transplant. Jesse is a
student at Presidio High School and a role model for others.
TEACHER AWARD - Krista Gypton:
Krista Gypton is an English teacher at Empire High School, with a
Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education and a Masters of Arts in
Curriculum Development with a Reading Specialty. Krista has been
teaching for eight years and has spent the last seven years
incorporating service learning into her English classroom. She is the
founder and advisor of the MOVE the community club (Making Others’
Voices Essential), where she helps students get involved in the
community, both locally and globally. Recently Krista was named
Ambassador of Excellence as one of the top five teachers in Arizona.
Over her years of teaching, 100% of Krista’s students have met or
exceeded the standards on the AIMS test.
TEACHER AWARD - Charles Gallagher:
Charles Gallagher has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts and a
Masters Degree in Vocational Education. Charles has taught for 24years,
9 on the Navajo Reservation. He currently teaches Construction and
Drafting at Santa Rita High School and his students have been building
houses for Habitat for Humanity for the past 13 years. Charles was
named Teacher of the Year from the Association for Career and Technical
Education (ACTE) in 2007, the Regional V 2007ACTE Teacher of the Year,
and was one of three finalists for the National ACTE Teacher of the
Year. In 2008, he was named one of the top five teachers in Arizona.
CORPORATE AWARD - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. - Sierrita:
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. - Sierrita has a community-minded mission and
commitment which has greatly benefited the Sahuarita Unified School
District. It has provided continuing support for the district's Leaders
in Character program, the Teacher of the Year program, and the Support
Staff Employee of the Month award. Freeport-McMoRan team members meet
regularly with district personnel to discuss issues of mutual concern.
This has resulted in career-based presentations and facility tours in
support of the school district’s career and technical education
program as well as support for athletic and other extracurricular
programs.
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