Teacher
Awards
Supporting Teachers Since Day One!
We’ve been committed to supporting the teachers in our local communities since we first opened our doors in 1934. We know our educators put in long hours to help make our future brighter, oftentimes with limited resources. On this page you will learn about our annual Teacher Awards initiative, student credit unions, and a few of the ways we support our teachers and students.
2022 Teacher Awards
More Than 80 Teachers Will Win an
Amazon Digital Gift Card!
The 2022 Teacher Award winners have been announced below. Look for the 2023 Teacher Awards initiative to be announced sometime before the start of the 2023-24 school year!
2022 Winners
With each year that passes, the Annual Teacher Awards continue to grow, and 2022 was no exception with the addition of two new communities in the Grand Rapids Region (Allendale and Jenison). As a result, Honor increased its total number of teachers awarded from 70 winners to 86 winners and brought in nearly 1,000 entries from educators across its 28-member center communities. See all of the winners below.
86 Teacher Award Winners
The following 86 educators have been blindly selected to each receive a $200 Amazon digital gift card as the winners of the 13th Annual Teacher Awards:
Battle Creek / Coldwater Area
- Battle Creek Public Schools – Rhonda Turner
- Battle Creek Public Schools – Tammy Westbrook
- Calhoun ISD – Andrea Nuelken
- Coldwater Community Schools – Joseph Closson
- Lakeview Battle Creek – Alexa Robinson
- Lakeview Battle Creek – Jessica Day
- Marshall High School – Megan Walters
- Pansophia Academy – Cierra Becker
- Reading Community Schools – Stacey Kies
- St. Charles Borromeo – Brenda Mescher
- St. Joseph Catholic, Battle Creek – John Wendland
- St. Philip Catholic Central High School – Michelle Fuller
Buchanan / Niles / Berrien Springs / Eau Claire Area
- Berrien Springs Public Schools – Carrie VanDenburgh
- Berrien Springs Public Schools – Sarah Jackemeyer
- Berrien Springs Public Schools – Shelly Archer
- Brandywine Community Schools – David Staggs
- Brandywine Community Schools – Jenni Button
- Buchanan Community Schools – Alexander Ehlert
- Buchanan Community Schools – Kelly Smith
- Eau Claire Public Schools – Kristen Roe
- Niles Community Schools – Emily Grontkowski
- River Valley School District – Jeri Essig
St. Joseph / Benton Harbor Area
- Benton Harbor Area Schools – Melody Cardenas
- Berrien RESA – Jenna Hawkins
- Lake Michigan College – JT Neuffer
- St. Joseph Public Schools – Marilyn Jones
- Trinity Lutheran School – Deborah Boughner
Baroda / Stevensville Area
- Bridgman High Schools – Andrea Countess
- Bridgman Public Schools – Jackie Harding
- Bridgman Public Schools – Kelly Hahaj
- Bridgman, Immanuel Lutheran Preschool – Angela Cullison
- Lakeshore Public Schools – Jennifer Engleman
- Lakeshore Public Schools – Nancy Anderson
- Lakeshore Public Schools – Suzie Onken
Decatur / Dowagiac / Paw Paw Area
- Cassopolis Public Schools – Amanda Solloway
- Cassopolis Public Schools – Serena Sawyer
- Decatur Public Schools – Jennifer Adduci
- Dowagiac Schools – Denise Stockwell
- Edwardsburg Public Schools – Kaylan Wiemuth
- Patrick Hamilton Elementary School – Elizabeth Layman
- Paw Paw Public Schools – Amy Oetjens
- Paw Paw Public Schools – Heather Vandermolen
- Paw Paw Public Schools – Maria Reo
Coloma / Hartford / South Haven Area
- Bangor Public Schools – Karen Shafer
- Covert Public Schools – Kelsey Vollrath
- Glenn Public School – Jenna Marr
- Hartford Public Schools – Ashley Williams
- Hartford Public Schools – Jane Gonzalez
- Hartford Public Schools – Kelseyann Wright
- South Haven Public Schools – Brock Thumm
- Watervliet Public Schools – Alaina Bongiorno
- Watervliet Public Schools – David Kindt
Greater Grand Rapids Area
- Caledonia Community Schools – Alissa Chase
- Grand Rapids Public Schools – Candy Vela
- Grand Rapids Public Schools – Lisa Barnes
- Grand Rapids Public Schools – Selin Turan
- Kenowa Hills Public Schools – Bailey Evans
- Kentwood Public Schools – Diana McDiarmid
- Lowell Area Schools – Katelyn Elizabeth Pulver
- Mason County Central Schools – Penny Fort
- Montcalm Area Intermediate School District- Brittany Danner
- Telamon – Monica Marquez
- Wayland Union Schools – Becky Hyma
- Wayland – St. Therese Catholic School – Kate Lund
Greater Kalamazoo Area
- Allegan Public Schools – Abby Waynick
- Allegan Public Schools – Becky Calvert
- Comstock Public Schools – Natalie Hosbein
- Delton Kellogg – Heather Tack
- Gull Lake Community Schools – Nicole Miller
- Gull Lake Community Schools – Patrick English
- Kalamazoo Public Schools – Dawn Kahler
- Kalamazoo Public Schools – Heather Ballines-Barajas
- Kalamazoo Public Schools – Itzel Gomez-Avalos
- Portage Public Schools – Kara Mounce
- Vicksburg Community Schools – Julie Hughes
- Vicksburg Community Schools – Melissa Collins
Gwinn /Marquette/ Negaunee Area
- Gwinn Area Community Schools – Amanda Hornback
- Gwinn Area Community Schools – Olivia Johnson
- Marquette Area Public Schools – Kelsey Wales
- Marquette Area Public Schools – Steffani Dobson
- Negaunee Public Schools – Courtney Neveu
- Negaunee Public Schools – Jodi Johnson
- Negaunee Public Schools – Lacey O’Donnell
- Negaunee Public Schools – Michelle Lammi
- North Star Academy – Sarah Vickstrom
- Superior Central Schools – Tamryn King
35 Honorable Mention Winners
The following 35 teachers were selected as Honorable Mention winners and each received a $100 Amazon digital gift card:
Battle Creek /Coldwater Area
- Marshall Public Schools – Samantha McClusky
- Pansophia Academy – Jamie Barrand
- Pennfield Schools – Erin Mosher
- Union City Community Schools – Laura Bandlow
Buchanan / Niles/Berrien Springs /Eau Claire Area
- Brandywine Schools – Megan Kohler
- Buchanan Schools – Lauren Hendrick
- Eau Claire Public Schools – Wendy Hart
- Niles Community Schools – Lynette Wideman
Baroda / Stevensville Area
- Bridgman Public Schools – Kirsten Southwood
- Lakeshore Public Schools – Jill Rezanka
- Lakeshore Public Schools – Tessa Lee
- River Valley School District – Michelle Sykora
St. Joseph / Benton Harbor Area
- Benton Harbor Area Schools – Elizabeth Austin
- Grace Lutheran School – Denise Fletcher
- Michigan Lutheran High School – Heidi Plocher
- St. Joseph Public Schools – Morgan Altergott
Decatur / Dowagiac / Paw Paw Area
- Decatur Public Schools – Jessica Fegan
- Dowagiac Union Schools – Laura Frye
- Dowagiac Union Schools – Susan Grear
- Paw Paw Public Schools – Bethany Stanton
Coloma / Hartford / South Haven Area
- Bangor Public Schools – Cris McGuire
- Bloomingdale Elementary – Mariann Dowd
- Hartford Public Schools – Kim Fearnow
- Grace Christian School – Leslie Colford
- South Haven Public Schools – Mary Phillips
Grand Rapids Area
- Conklin Migrant Headstart -Tiffany Kiiskila
- Grand Rapids Public Schools – Juanita Mathis
- Grand Rapids Public Schools – Karl Johnson
- Jenison Public Schools – Monica Perez
Kalamazoo Area
- Alamo Elementary School – Sheryl Cramer
- Allegan Public Schools – Hailey Baker
- Comstock Public Schools – Becky Raines
- Gull Lake Community Schools – Kristine Hop
Gwinn / Marquette / Negaunee Area
- Negaunee Public Schools – Krista Squiers
- Republic-Michigamme – Kevin Luokkala
2021 Winners
We received over 500 more entries than we did in 2020, so in addition to the 70 teachers who each received a $200 Amazon digital gift card, there were 32 Honorable Mention winners who each received a $100 Amazon digital gift card. But, it didn’t stop there! Knowing the impact the funds could have on teachers and students, Honor’s Community Assistant Vice Presidents selected an additional 11 teachers who would receive various classroom supplies to help fill requests. That brought the total number of awarded teachers to 113! See all of the winners below.
70 Teacher Award Winners
The following 70 educators have been blindly selected to each receive a $200 Amazon digital gift card as the winners of the 12th Annual Teacher Awards:
Allegan Area
Erika Zimmer (Allegan Public Schools)
Battle Creek Area
- Kara Malone (Battle Creek Public Schools)
- Katherine Cape (Battle Creek Public Schools)
- Justin Brown (Calhoun Intermediate School)
- Amanda Schultz (Harper Creek School District)
Benton Harbor Area
- Steven Kreichauf (Benton Harbor Area Schools)
- Alicia Silva (Benton Harbor Charter School Academy)
- Linda Douglas (Countryside Academy)
Berrien Springs Area
- Jose Diaz (Andrews Academy)
- Tamara Nelson (Berrien Springs Public Schools)
- Amanda Harris (Berrien RESA)
Buchanan Area
- Melissa Calvillo (Buchanan Community Schools)
Bridgman Area
- Ashley Vincentini (Bridgman Public Schools)
- Madison Singer (Bridgman Public Schools)
Cassopolis Area
- Brandy Meiser (Heritage Southwest ISD)
- Amanda Solloway (Cassopolis Public Schools)
Coloma Area
- Daniel Roberts (Coloma Community Schools)
Coldwater Area
- Becky Jackson (Branch ISD)
- Courtney Gallup (Coldwater Public Schools)
Decatur Area
- Jenn Adduci (Decatur Public Schools)
- Kristen McLouth (Decatur Public Schools)
Dowagiac Area
- Reggie Fritz (Dowagiac Union Schools)
- Susan Grear (Dowagiac Union Schools)
- Suzanne Brooks (Dowagiac Union Schools)
Eau Claire Area
- Allyson Rigler (Eau Claire Public Schools)
Edwardsburg Area
- Denise Halgren (Edwardsburg Public Schools)
- Kaylan Wiemuth (Edwardsburg Public Schools)
- Rebecca Coleman (Edwardsburg Public Schools)
Gobles Area
- Erin Carlin (Gobles Public Schools)
Gwinn Area
- Dan Turecky (Gwinn Area Community Schools)
- Elizabeth Henry (Gwinn Area Community Schools)
- Monique Moore (Gwinn Area Community Schools)
Kalamazoo Area
- Jill Plesko (Kalamazoo RESA)
Hopkins Area
- Tara Lutz-Wilkins (Hopkins Public Schools)
Ishpeming Area
- Chantel Heimerl (Ishpeming-Negaunee-NICE)
- Heather Swanson (Ishpeming School District)
Lowell Area
- Katelyn Pulver (Lowell Area Schools)
Marshall Area
- Samantha McClusky (Marshall Public Schools)
Marquette Area
- Jen Erickson (Marquette Area Public Schools)
- Mary Bengry (Marquette Area Public Schools)
- Peggy Lagina (Marquette Area Public Schools)
- Jessica LaPine (Community Action Alger- Marquette)
Negaunee Area
- Krista Squiers (Negaunee Public Schools)
New Buffalo Area
- Danika Loeffler (New Buffalo Area Schools)
Niles Area
- Elizabeth Grow (Niles Public Schools)
Otsego Area
- Melissa Garrett (Otsego Public Schools)
Paw Paw Area
- Mindy Brennan (Paw Paw Public Schools)
Parchment Area
- Amber French (Parchment School District)
Plainwell Area
- Tracy Keesee (Plainwell Community Schools)
Portage Area
- Kristen Wick (Portage Public Schools)
Sodus Area
- Michelle Koneff (River School Sodus)
Springport Area
- Kim Keeler (Springport Public Schools)
St. Joseph Area
- Amber Lange (Saint Joseph Public Schools)
- Jeff Weiss (Trinity Lutheran School)
South Haven Area
- Anita Wright (South Haven Public Schools)
- Jennifer Brooks (South Haven Public Schools)
- Julie Sheppard (South Haven Public Schools)
- Linda Brzezinski (South Haven Public Schools)
Stevensville Area
- Sandra Blough (Lakeshore Public Schools)
- Jamie Lange (Lakeshore Public Schools)
- Leah Reusser (Lakeshore Public Schools)
Three Oaks Area
- Rose Montie (River Valley School District)
Union City Area
- Ben Kinnison (Union City Community Schools)
Vicksburg Area
- Jill Boudrie (Vicksburg Community Schools)
- Shannon Vallier (Vicksburg Community Schools)
Waldron Area
- Amy Mroczek (Waldron Area Schools)
Watervliet Area
- Angelina Cooper (Watervliet Public Schools)
- Carolyn Simmons (Watervliet Public Schools)
- Linda Zuniga (Watervliet Public Schools)
32 Honorable Mention Winners
The following 32 teachers were selected as Honorable Mention winners and each received a $100 Amazon digital gift card:
Battle Creek / Coldwater
- Laura Bandlow (Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools)
- Maree Wagner (Bronson Schools)
- Abby Mencke (Coldwater Community Schools)
- Melanie Baker (Harper Creek)
Buchanan / Niles / Berrien Springs / Eau Claire
- Megan Lenz (Berrien Springs Public Schools)
- MacKenzie Shelton (Brandywine Community Schools)
- Kelly Smith (Buchanan Community Schools)
- Wendy Hart (Eau Claire Public Schools)
- Rikki Jones (Niles Community Schools)
St. Joseph / Stevensville / Benton Harbor
- Courtney Quandt (Lakeshore Public Schools)
- Matthew Pagel (Lakeshore Public Schools)
- Kathleen Sant (Lake Michigan Catholic)
- Susan Hunnell (St. Joseph Public Schools)
- Amy Roth (Trinity Lutheran School)
Decatur / Dowagiac / Edwardsburg
- Julie Wilder (Decatur Public Schools)
- Claudia Zebell (Dowagiac Union Schools)
- Cari Soderbloom (Dowagiac Union Schools)
- Debra Wegner (Dowagiac Union Schools)
- Erik Kimbler (Edwardsburg Public Schools)
Paw Paw / South Haven / Coloma
- Trista Kelly (Hartford Public Schools)
- Kate Galla (Mattawan School District)
- Susan White (Paw Paw Public Schools)
- Mary Phillips (South Haven Public Schools)
- Rebecca Linstrom (South Haven Public Schools)
Kalamazoo
- Amy Eastman (Kalamazoo Public Schools)
Gwinn / Marquette / Negaunee
- Abby Pickett (Gwinn Area Community Schools)
- Kristi Mumm (Marquette Area Public Schools)
- Lucy Anthony (Marquette Area Public Schools)
- Nicole Whitford (Negaunee Public Schools)
- Casie Hill (North Star Montessori Academy)
- Anette Gleason (Republic-Michigamme School)
11 Additional Winners
The following 11 teachers were selected by Honor Community Assistant Vice Presidents to receive goodies and needed classroom items:
- Michelle Fuller (Battle Creek St. Philip Catholic Central High School)
- Rebecca Nicolas (Berrien Springs Public Schools)
- Abby Sandmann (Berrien Springs Public Schools)
- Nicole Hughes (Buchanan Community Schools)
- Jennifer Bloss (Cassopolis Public Schools)
- Jessica Pompey (Cassopolis Public Schools)
- Karen Nuckels (Decatur Public Schools)
- Jessica Schultz (Decatur Public Schools)
- Joa Puckett (Eau Claire Public Schools)
- Adam Westhouse (Lakeview High School)
- Rebecca Hartley (New Buffalo School District)
How Honor Supports Students
Student Credit Unions
We’ve been teaching youngsters about money management for as long as we can remember. Our Student Credit Union program has been around for over 10 years and has grown every year. For the 2021-22 school year we had 20 student credit unions run by student workers. They offer a great experience for our young savers.
Youth Accounts
Our Youth Accounts are a great way for toddlers on up to teenagers to learn about saving and managing money. Whether they find a nickel on the ground, or get a crisp $20 bill on their birthday, we’re here to help teach the value of saving. There are also a few perks for the parents as well. Check out our Youth Accounts page to learn more.
