Baldwin High School honor students recently presented their chosen educators with Golden Apple Awards, honoring the significant impact each educator had on the senior’s academic journey.
On May 20, 2022, the first teachers were awarded the Golden Apple Awards in the Baldwin High School Fine Arts Center. The honor was founded by the late academic coach Shelton Brown and former principal Jason Flanders.
Senior honor students select an educator from K-12 who made a lasting impact in their life, and buy and gift them with a trophy, which is the Golden Apple. Students also read a brief essay on what that impact meant to them.
“The Golden Apple Awards are not restricted to the high school or the district. It is awarded to an educator that a student has selected, no matter from which grade, district, or role within the school system. There are students who have not spent their entire life in Baldwin, and we do not want to limit those students from being able to choose,” said Baldwin High School Principal Markeeta Clayton. “An honor student is a student who has earned a 90 cumulative average during their entire high school career. An educator is any individual who is a part of the school system.”
This year was the largest ceremony to be held with 37 educators receiving golden apples April 24 during the honors breakfast. Clayton stated they made the honor more accessible by removing the barrier of students needing to purchase the trophy on their own.
“The high school decided to buy the trophies, so it is a true honor for them to select the educator and present them with a golden apple. We encourage them to find that person and think about those moments when a teacher encouraged them or gave them an inspirational message,” said Clayton.
“An apple has always been symbolic of education.
It has been a gift given to teachers for years as a sign of appreciation, but the golden color represents the amazing work they have done to build up this honor graduate. The honor graduates wear a golden stole, so it also matches them.”
According to Clayton, one of the most common reasons an educator may be chosen for the role is their mentorship to help a student with college or career preparation.
Many teachers are also praised for their dedication to assisting students in subjects they struggle with.
“These educators work to prepare the students’ futures whether it be by assisting them in areas they struggle in, teaching them skills to prepare them for the college of their choosing or with their future career, or by simply inspiring them through fostering a connection,” said Clayton. “Teachers see 70-90 students a day so presenting them with a golden apple shows that teacher or educator the impact they made. It gives them credit for the work they put in and it is monumental to hear that directly from a student.”
Because the number of awards increased this year, Clayton stated discussions are ongoing of changing the breakfast to a dinner and possibly opening the awards to the entire senior class.
Though neither change is yet to be confirmed.