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PARTNERS IN LEARNING AWARDS BANQUET
April 29 - Delaware County’s outstanding teachers and students received well-deserved recognition during the Partners in Learning Banquet at the Corporate Events Center at Drexelbrook on April 29, sponsored by the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Foundation. Eighteen exceptional and dedicated educators in the county’s public and non-public schools received the first-ever Excellence in Teaching Award, which is to be awarded annually. In addition, six high school seniors were recognized as winners of the 2008 John D. Unangst Scholarship, an annual award that honors FMFCU President/CEO and Foundation President Unangst.
The honored teachers were nominated for the distinction by their peers, their former or present students or their students’ families. They were selected by a panel of FMFCU Foundation and Delaware County Intermediate Unit members on the basis of their extraordinary performance in the classroom and their commitment to education and their students that extends beyond the normal job requirements. Chosen was one teacher from each of Delaware County’s 15 school districts, along with one teacher from the Delaware County Intermediate Unit, one from a non-public elementary school and another from a non-public middle school. The honorees and their school district include Barbara Baily, K-second grades, Concord Also Hollie Citerone, Kindergarten Center,Southeast Delco; Monica Cook, ninth--11th grade special education, Haverford High School, Haverford; Patti Georges, sixth, seventh and eighth grade music and chorus, Northley Middle School, Penn-Delco; Jack Hontz, music director, Strath Haven High School, Wallingford-Swarthmore; Kim Mitchell, special education, Russell Elementary School, Marple Newtown; Twyla Simpkins, 11th , 12th grade English, Chester High School, Chester Upland; Julie Smith, fifth grade, Chichester Middle School, Chichester; and Robert Thomas, English teacher, Penn Wood High School, William Penn. Non-public teachers honored were Michelle Cooperstein, public school teacher for the Delaware County Intermediate Unit; Mary Lou D’Alonzo, Learning Resource teacher at Holy Cross School in Springfield, Archdiocese of Philadelphia; and Julie Meyers, Lang Each distinguished educator received a $500 award and a commemorative keepsake, plus an additional $1,000 to benefit his or her school. In addition to FMFCU Foundation, sponsors of the Excellence in Teaching Award are the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU), the Delaware County Daily Times and Endo Pharmaceuticals. In presenting the Excellence in Teaching awards, Daily Times Editor Phil Heron told how the love of language and words was instilled in him as a young student by his teachers. He said it was “a great pleasure” to recognize excellence in education in much the same way as excellence in athletics is recognized. Ms. Clair’s 2008 Financial Literacy Advocate award was presented by Rick Durante, FMFCUVice President of Education and Executive Director of theFoundation. He pointed out that as principal of St. Gabriel’s, Ms.Clair formed a partnership with the credit union to start an after-school financial education program for children in grades three through eight. She also developed and taught “Everyday Economics” while a teacher at Interboro High and was involved in starting the region’s first student-operated credit union branch at Interboro in 2004. Durante called her leadership “extraordinary.” Ms. Clair said she was accepting the award on behalf of her young students, whom she noted are never too young to learn the importance of good money management. In addition, Ciera Stovall, Chester High, was the recipient of a new scholarship honoring Mary O. Kennedy’s 30th year as a member of the FMFCU’s Board of Directors. Ms. DeLong, whose essay was a tribute to her deceased father, expressed the feelings of her fellow recipients when she said she was thrilled to receive the scholarship. She plans to study civil engineering at Penn State. Upper Darby High School was recognized as 2008 Student Branch of the Year by John Powers, FMFCU Vice President, Retail Sales. It’s one of five student-operated, full service in-school branches of the credit union. The others are at Interboro, Penn Wood, Springfield and Strath Haven high schools. The president of the Upper Darby High branch, Rachel Edwards, was named 2008 Outstanding Student Leader. She was commended by FMFCU Vice President/District Manager Dawn Bressler for her exceptional leadership, enthusiasm and dedication to the branch program. She received $500. Members of FMFCU’s 2007-2008 Youth Advisory Board, who received special recognition, include Bethany Cheezum, president; Jeremy Methven, vice president; Emily Schmidt, secretary; and Travis Harris, Shakar Jones, Audie Oranie and Davinder Pal Singh. |
EIGHTEEN OUTSTANDING DELAWARE COUNTY TEACHERS HONORED AT PARTNERS IN LEARNING BANQUET 
Honored as well was Kathleen “Kate” Clair, principal of St. Gabriel Parish School in Norwood, who was named the 2008 FMFCU Financial Literacy Advocate. Also, participants in FMFCU’s student-operated branch program received special recognition. 
Elementary School, Garnet Valley School District; Marion M. Bailey. second grade, Leedom Elementary School, Ridley; Elinor Ball, fifth grade, Ethan Elementary School, Radnor; Janet Barber, ninth-12th grade science, Springfield High School, Springfield; Joseph Barrett, physical education/health, Norwood School, Interboro; Mary Byrnes, language arts, Beverly Hills Middle School, Upper Darby; James Ciccarelli, 11th , 12th grade physics, Penncrest High School, Rose Tree Media.
uage Arts teacher at Nativity BVM School in Media, Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Winners of the 2008 John D. Unangst Scholarship, established to honor Unangst’s 25th anniversary with FMFCU, were Stephanie Doran, Garnet Valley High; Michelle DeLong, Cardinal O’Hara High; J. Carter Prince, Strath Haven High; David Ross, Jenkintown High; and John Bevilacqua, Interboro High. The scholarship presented to Bevilacqua, who plans to attend Penn State Brandywine and eventually become a doctor, was personally funded by Unangst. A graduate of Interboro High, Unangst chooses one deserving Interboro senior each year to receive the scholarship.
A $1,500 check for educational-related expenses, plus a commemorative plaque, was presented to each student winner by Dr. Harry Jamison, retired executive director of the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and a member of the FMFCU board of directors. Jamison noted the students were selected through a competitive essay contest that drew more than 100 entries. It was difficult to choose the top six, he said.