Dedicated to the core: Golden Apple Awards given

The Findlay Rotary Club named finalists for the 2021 Golden Apple Award on Wednesday, with all three demonstrating a commitment to fostering student success. Now in its 31st year, the annual award honors top educators in Findlay and Hancock County. One finalist is named at the elementary school, middle school and high school levels. The award is meant to enhance the public's respect and awareness of excellent teachers and to help attract new and dedicated people to the profession. This year's award recipients are: • Mackenzie "Macie" Wenner, a fourth-grade teacher at Wilson Vance Elementary School. • Raymond Wolfe, director of choir, musical director and assistant band director at Liberty-Benton Local Schools, sixth through 12th grade. • Mark Laux, a science teacher at Findlay High School. Each finalist received the Golden Apple Award and a $2,500 cash prize, and will join past finalists in the Golden Apple Academy. Semifinalists each received a $250 cash prize. Mackenzie "Macie" Wenner "I was inspired at a young age to become a teacher," Wenner wrote in her teaching philosophy essay. "My fifth-grade teacher had such a profound impact on my education that I instantly knew I wanted to become a teacher. ... This is the only profession that shapes the minds of our future leaders. It is a big task to live up to! That's why I believe that teaching the whole child is important." She has been teaching fourth grade in Findlay City Schools for eight years. "To make sure our younger generations know and understand respect, responsibility and kindness, I focus on those characteristics each day in my classroom. Our children need to know we are invested in them for years to come," she wrote. Raymond Wolfe Wolfe has held his position with Liberty-Benton schools since 2014. "My philosophy of teaching is student-centered and student-driven," he wrote. "I believe that every student has a voice and they should share it with the world. I am tasked with helping students learn the tools to find and refine that voice and get it to work in conjunction with other students. While my foremost goal is the success of my choirs, I find that I am more interested in producing well-rounded human beings who will be productive members of society once they leave my classroom." Wolfe said he encourages community involvement to all his students through mission organizations and performing opportunities through Youtheatre and the Fort Findlay Playhouse. "These things have not only enhanced their music education, but also made them people who are willing to see the value in serving others," he wrote. Mark Laux Laux has worked as a science teacher for Findlay City Schools since 2003. He began his teaching philosophy essay with a single question: "Why do I teach?" "It's a question I have asked myself many times over the course of my 18-year teaching career," he continued. "Thankfully, I still come to the same answer every time. I have a passion to see young people become the best version of themselves, and anything I can do to help get them there is worth the effort, lifestyle, commitment and many frustrations that correspond with a job in education. "My teaching philosophy completely centers around a calling to give students of all backgrounds the opportunity to dream big and set goals, and then support them as they strive to achieve those goals." Semifinalists This year's semifinalists at the elementary level included Brooke Imke, title and reading intervention teacher at Jefferson Primary School; and Becky Solomon, a teacher at Washington Preschool. Semifinalists at the middle school level were Miranda Kennedy, social studies and reading teacher at Vanlue Junior High School; and Kristina Rodman, an intervention specialist at Van Buren Local Schools. High school semifinalists were Chelsea Burden, an American government teacher at Van Buren High School; and Daniel Wilson, director of bands at Findlay High School. The Findlay Rotary Club accepts nominations for the award from students, parents, administration, colleagues and community members. Nominees must be a current teacher working in the Findlay area or a Hancock County school, with at least three years of experience. Grant: 419-427-8412