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Blue Apple Awards

Each year, nominations are accepted to recognize five special recipients for Blue Apple Awards (Formerly Of the Year Awards):

  • New Educator of the Year – Has worked at BPS for <5 years (Receives $1000)
  • Distinguished Educator of the Year – Has worked at BPS for 5+ years (Receives $1000)
  • Support Staff of the Year (Receives $500)
  • School Volunteer of the Year
  • Distinguished Alumni

Nominations can be submitted by BPS staff, students, parents, alumni and community members. Recipients are voted on by the BPS Foundation Board of Directors at their regular board meeting in February.  New in 2024, our board voted on a rubric of guidelines for the selection of each of these awards. View Rubrics and Guidelines.

Nominations Open January 1–31.

Left to Right: 2023 Of the Year award recipients: Kathryn Sindelar – New Educator of the Year, Chris Tomjack – Distinguished Educator of the Year and Danita Diamond – Volunteer of the Year. Not pictured: DeAndra Dirkschneider – Support Staff of the Year and Bret Erickson – Distinguished Alumni.

Past Recipients

  • Educator of the Year

    2024 – Tonya Eurek (Distinguished), Phil Scherer (New)
    2023 – Chris Tomjack (Distinguished), Kathryn Sindelar (New)
    2022 – Janna Pohlmann-Noel (Distinguished), Maddie Weaver (New)
    2021 – Kris Melvin (Distinguished), Emily Weitzenkamp (New)
    2020 – Laura McGrew (Distinguished), Alex Saunders (New)
    2019 – Jen Flynn (Distinguished), Amy Nguyen (New)
    2018 – Tye Hanke (Distinguished), Mariah Babbel (New)
    2017 – Abby Fitzgerald
    2016 – Kellie Backlund
    2015 – Gary Sather
    2014 – Emily Panning
    2013 – Stan Turner
    2012 – Cindy Pichler
    2011 – Ken Crookshank
    2010 – Wendy Andersen
    2009 – Dawn Kucera
    2008 – Denise Hoge
    2007 – Jim Dickson
    2006 – Karen Brostad
    2005 – Kathy Valasek
    2004 – Jim Dickson
    2003 – Sister Barb Ficenec
    2002 – Juanita Schmidt
    2001 – Janiece Coe

  • Support Staff of the Year

    2024 – Norise Young
    2023 – DeAndra Dirkschneider
    2022 – Linda White
    2021 – Shelly Christiansen
    2020 – Gay Copeland
    2019 – Lyle Brayton
    2018 – Kathy Nowak
    2017 – Bonnie Eikmeier
    2016 – Rob Loptin
    2015 – Denise Heppner
    2014 – Kelly Witt
    2013 – Miriam Sukraw
    2012 – Trena Rice
    2011 – Carol Loptin

  • School Volunteer of the Year

    2024 – Mandy Evert
    2023 – Danita Diamond
    2022 – Brenda Ferris
    2021 – Tracy J. Behnken
    2020 – Curt Bohn
    2019 – Dr. Bacino
    2018 – Nicki Byars
    2017 – Chuck Oborny
    2016 – Nadine Menke
    2015 – Melissa Freed
    2014 – Andrew Brueckner
    2013 – Robyn Romero
    2012 – Julie Schrum
    2011 – Dr Jeff & Kristi Jacobs
    2010 – Marcia Ellison
    2009 – Mark Reimers
    2008 – Chris Renter
    2007 – Miriam Sukraw
    2006 – Leann Siekman
    2005 – Rochelle Samuelson
    2004 – Sally McElroy
    2003 – Linda Williams
    2002 – Marilee Braesch
    2001 – Wendy Andersen

  • Distinguished Alumni

    2024 – Connie Blazek Wickham, Class of 1976
    2023 – Brett Erickson, Class of 1978
    2022 – Nancy Mohr, Class of 1974
    2021 – Albert Weberg Jr Class of 1965 & Tim Clark Class of 1996

Yellow pencils.

Our Impact This Year

  • Schools Served

    8

  • Focus Programs Served

    14

  • Students Empowered

    4,243

  • Teachers & Staff Supported

    521

  • Financial Impact

    $3M

© 2025 Bennington Public Schools Foundation
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