April 19, 2024

Three GCHS Teachers Named Crystal Apple Teacher For 2020

USD 457

Three teachers from Garden City Public Schools were named 2020 Crystal Apple Teachers of Finney County on Thursday, November 19th.  The three teachers who won the highly honored distinction include: Yuriy Drubinskiy, Garden City High School; Biju Kalarikkal, Garden City High School; and Jane Schneider, Garden City High School.  The teachers were recognized during a virtual ceremony broadcast on the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page to adhere to all of the COVID-19 related precautions in place in the community and school district.

Each Crystal Apple Teacher received an engraved crystal apple, a $1,000 cash award, an iPad, a lapel pin, and a framed certificate.

2020 Crystal Apple Teachers (L to R: Yuriy Drubinskiy, Jane Schneider, Biju Kalarikkal)

A’Lana Bates, Horace Good Middle School; Dianna Deniston, Jennie Wilson Elementary School; and Melissa Hensley, Garden City High School were the three finalists and each received a cash award of $250 and a framed certificate.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Chamber’s Crystal Apple Awards. The program was developed, organized and implemented by the Community Awareness and Recognition (C.A.R.E.) Committee, a Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce task force and representatives of the business community.  The program honors outstanding teachers in Finney County for their efforts in teaching children.