May 16, 2006 – Toledo, OH – Seven elementary school teachers and two high school teachers from across the Toledo Diocese will receive the Golden Apple Award for devoting their time and talents to Catholic education. The Golden Apple Award was established by the Jack and Rhodora Donahue Family Foundation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has been expanded from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to include the Diocese of Youngstown and, starting this year, the Diocese of Toledo.
Each award winner will receive $5,000, a certificate of achievement, a Golden Apple keepsake decorated with a 24-karat gold cross, and a lapel pin. All of the winners will be honored at a banquet to be held on Wednesday, May 31 at the Toledo Club in Toledo. Bishop Leonard P. Blair will present the awards to this year’s winners.

May 16, 2006 – Toledo, OH – Seven elementary school teachers and two high school teachers from across the Toledo Diocese will receive the Golden Apple Award for devoting their time and talents to Catholic education. The Golden Apple Award was established by the Jack and Rhodora Donahue Family Foundation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has been expanded from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to include the Diocese of Youngstown and, starting this year, the Diocese of Toledo. Each award winner will receive $5,000, a certificate of achievement, a Golden Apple keepsake decorated with a 24-karat gold cross, and a lapel pin. All of the winners will be honored at a banquet to be held on Wednesday, May 31 at the Toledo Club in Toledo. Bishop Leonard P. Blair will present the awards to this year’s winners.

Thirty-seven teachers from across the diocese were nominated for this year’s award. Teachers had to be nominated by a parent, a student or a fellow teacher. Each school was allowed one nominee whose application was sent to a selection committee at the diocesan schools’ office. This year’s winners include:

Kathleen Ansted – Blessed Sacrament – Toledo – Mrs. Ansted has been teaching at Blessed Sacrament since 1979. She taught fourth grade for nine years, and second grade for 16 years. She currently teaches seventh and eighth grade Science and Social Studies and Computer for grades third through eighth. Mrs. Ansted is also an Athletic Booster volunteer, a Passion Play Assistant, a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and has been recognized by Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers three different years. Nominated by a current student and her parents, they expressed their appreciation for her willingness to work with parents and her compassion and dedication to her students. Father Martin Donnelly, pastor at Blessed Sacrament, says of Mrs. Ansted, “Every school needs its pillars, those adults who embody the spirit and the letter of the school’s mission. Kathy is such a pillar!”

Adele Dahlin – Central Catholic High School – Toledo – Mrs. Dahlin has been teaching since 1976 and has been at Central Catholic as an English teacher since 1984. She was nominated by two former students who remembered the way she turned everyday classroom experiences into creative learning experiences. She included learning Elizabethan dances and playful banter to better understand the works of Shakespeare they were reading. In addition to teaching at Central Catholic, Mrs. Dahlin is also a supporter of the Toledo Museum of Art, University of Michigan School of Education, University of Michigan School of Literature, Science and Arts, United Way, Unicef, Mobile Meals of Toledo, and is an AP Literature exam reader. Reverend Dennis P. Hartigan, President of Central Catholic said of Mrs. Dahlin, “She is diligent, hard working and teaches with a passion, an intensity, and a caring spirit.”

Sr. Cheryl Darr, SND – Lial Elementary – Whitehouse – Sr. Cheryl has taught throughout the diocese since 1972 including positions at St. Paul Norwalk, Notre Dame Academy, and St. Mary School in Toledo. Sr. Cheryl has been in her current position at Lial since 2000 though she taught there in 1993-1994 and from 1976-1981. The parents of a current and former student of Sr. Cheryl nominated her with fond memories of Sr. Cheryl reaching out to their oldest daughter and helping her find a tutor when she was struggling with mathematics. Sr. Cheryl was recently named the National Catholic Education Association Teacher of the Year for Ohio and Michigan. Outside of the classroom she helps provide bi-monthly childcare at Aurora House in Toledo, and is a member of the Sole Sister Committee for Women Blessing Women Organization. Principal at Lial, Sr. Patricia Marie McClain, SND, says of Sr. Cheryl, “ Sister’s consistent, gentle and caring interaction with the students allows her to use any opportunity to teach life skills to the young people each day.”

Mary Goodenow – St. Aloysius – Bowling Green – Mrs. Goodenow began her teaching career at Saint Mary’s in Vermilion. As a teacher at St. Aloysius since 1974, she has taught fifth through eighth grade in Social Studies, Language Arts and Religion. Mrs. Goodenow also served as Principal at St. Aloysius from 1995-1997. Nominated by a fellow teacher, Mrs. Goodenow is noted for her dedication to her students and her colleagues and her creativity in the classroom. Mrs. Goodenow is also an active member of the Kappa Phi Club, an organization for university Christian women, Chapter President of Kappa Phi of Northwest Ohio Alumni Organization, and is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association. Mrs. Mary K. Williams, Principal at St. Aloysius says of Mrs. Goodenow, “Mary places special emphasis on striving to encourage students in their individual spiritual growth. She is approachable, innovative, and demonstrates flexibility in her style of teaching.”

John Gunder – St. John High School – Delphos – Mr. Gunder has been teaching at St. John’s for the past forty years in the subjects of Speech, television programming and film appreciation. Mr. Gunder has also directed the senior class musical every year that he has been at St. John’s, making sure that each year’s musical is unique to that group of students. Beyond the classroom Mr. Gunder’s activities are numerous including, Treasurer and past Auditor for the City of Delphos, host of “Coaches Corner” a thirty minute local television show, part time cameraman for WLIO in Lima, a four time recipient of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, a member of the National Catholic Education Association, and a member of the Delphos Republican Club, Ohio Municipal League and Ohio Treasurer’s Association. Mr. Gunder was nominated by a fellow teacher who said of his colleague, “Mr. Gunder is one of those rare teachers that always seems to brighten the day, whether by listening to a person’s problems, or just giving a simple smile and saying hello as you pass in the hall.”
 
Mary Niese – St. Charles – Lima – Miss Niese has been teaching at St. Charles since 1988 as a fourth and fifth grade general education teacher and as a sixth grade math teacher. Miss Niese is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Catholic Educational Association, and an Ohio State University Alumni Member. Miss Niese is also an active volunteer in the community taking part in fundraisers for Big Brother/Big Sister, Right to Life, Muscular Dystrophy, and Multiple Sclerosis, coordinating visits to the Hanley House, and the Christmas Adopt-A-Family program. Miss Niese was nominated by the parents of a current student who have been impressed and grateful for her understanding and commitment to helping with their son’s learning disability and the way she incorporates and encourages volunteerism in her classroom. Reverend Stephen J. Blum, pastor of St. Charles, says of Miss Niese, “Her selfless giving, her continuous compassion, her authentic witness in faith, her exceptional generosity, her gentle loving spirit all contribute to the beautiful woman of faith she is.”

Sharon Velliquette – St. Jerome – Walbridge – Miss Velliquette has been teaching St. Jerome elementary school since 1980 as a second grade teacher and currently as a third grade teacher. Among her many activities, Miss Velliquette is the coordinator of the St. Jerome’s Children’s Garden which provides produce for the local community and to St. Louis Helping Hands ministry. She is a member of the school’s Accreditation Steering Committee, the Innovative Building Coordinator and conducts summer tutoring sessions. Nominated by the entire faculty at St. Jerome’s, Miss Velliquette is noted for her creative hands-on teaching style that includes housing birds, fish, reptiles and spiders in her classroom, and utilizing SMART Board technology to enhance her lesson plans. Of their colleague, the faculty says of Miss Velliquette, “She is one of those rare humans who not only goes above and beyond, but makes the most of her God-given talents and shares them with everyone whom she comes in contact.”

Sr. Margaret Wasserman, RSM – St. Joseph – Fremont – Sr. Margaret has been teaching throughout the diocese since 1955 in grades ranging from Kindergarten to sixth grade. She also served as Principal at several schools throughout her distinguished career. Sr. Margaret is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association, a member of the Diocesan Accreditation Committee for curriculum, a member of the Mercy Elementary Education Network, and has been part of the Sisters of Mercy Community for 55 years. The parent who nominated Sr. Margaret praised her dedication to excellence in the classroom and her constant integration of new ideas and new techniques to keep her teaching relevant over her fifty years as an educator. Sr. Cecile Sakaley, RSM, Principal at St. Joseph says of Sr. Margaret, “Although she is short in stature like Zaccheus (under five feet tall), she has become a giant in the eyes of many, many families over her past fifty years in Catholic education. I applaud and affirm all her gifts which she so generously shares in education.”

Jacquelyn Zumbaugh – St. Mary’s Elementary School – Edgerton – Mrs. Zumbaugh has been teaching at St. Mary’s since 1972 in grades first through fourth. She is currently teaching second grade and was nominated by a former student and parent of two children who were in Mrs. Zumbaugh’s class. Mrs. Zumbaugh has also taught Vacation Bible School classes at St. Mary’s, is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a 4-H leader, and has been recognized by Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers three different years. She also served as the Mission Coordinator for the school, and has helped prepare parents and students for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Her nominator said of Mrs. Zumbaugh, “It amazes me how much she can teach her students, not only academically, but with strong Christian values of patience, kindness and love of God.”

For more information on the winners or the May 31 banquet please contact Jack Altenburger, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, at the Catholic Youth and Schools Services office at 419-244-6711 x 621.