By Judy Clabes
NKyTribune Editor
Boone County Superintendent Randy Poe was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Northern Kentucky Education Council at its annual celebration of Excellence in Education.
The award tops a string of recognitions for Poe, who also recently received 2015 F.L. Dupree Outstanding Superintendent by the Kentucky School Board Association.
The event drew a full house at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, as NKYEC recognized educational excellence at all levels — teachers, administrators, students, volunteers and business partners.
It’s also a comprehensive look at the scope and reach of the NKYEC and its impact on education in the region.
The top teacher award — the A.D. Albright Outstanding Teacher Leader — went to Heidi Neltner of Robert D. Johnson Elementary, chosen by judges of the Golden Apple Awards.
Other teachers receiving Golden Apple Awards were:
Kristin Bach, Walton-Verona Elementary
Melinda Boesken, River Ridge Elementary,
Lori Harpold, Crossroads Elementary,
Karen Holbrook,Gallatin County Elementary,
Ashley Lutz, Arnett Elementary,
Rachel McConnachie, Donald E. Cline Elementary,
Anglea Brehm, Turkeyfoot Elementary,
Lauren Elliott, Phillip A.Sharp Middle School,
Debbie McNeil, Walton-Verona Middle School,
Christopher Bryson, Kenton County Academies of Innovation and Technology,
Michael Florimonte, Campbell County High School, and
Kris Gillis, Dixie Heights High School.
The Business Engagement of the Year Award went to Celanese for its commitment to Piner Elementary where the company is heavily invested with both volunteers and financial resources. Among the many activities it supports are the Character Counts, Email Pals, Super Sciences Show, and a summer reading program that not only prevents a drop in reading scores over the summer break but actually increases reading scores of participants.
OTHER AWARDS:
Connie Crigger, Shirley Mann Elementary School, the A.D. Albright Outstanding Administrator Leader;
Carl Wicklund, long-time member of the Kenton County Schools board, the A.D. Albright Outstanding Governmental Leader;
Mary Ann Schmidt Hurtt of PNC Bank, the A.D. Albright Outstanding Business/Community Leader;
Christy Eby, a parent volunteer at Campbell Ridge, the One to One Literacy Award.
The Champion for Education Award went to the 12 co-chairs of the NKYEC’s Action Team: Leshia Lyman, Dr. Shelli Wilson, Karen Chester, Dr. Christina Petroze, Dr. Kathy Burkhardt, Dr. Jennifer Stansbury Koenig, Dr. Angie Taylor, Dave Schroder, Dr. Jean Loftus, Dr. Raymond Hebert, Mike Hammons, and Anthony Strong.
STUDENT AWARDS
The council presents numerous awards to area students who excel in many different areas, making for an impressive array of talent and hope for the future.
Five students were recognized as Academic All-Stars:
Logan Groneck, Highlands
Michael D. Lloyd, Dixie Heights
Matthew Joseph Miley, Holmes
Virgie Owens, Kenton County Academy of Innovation and Technology,
Benjamin Stacy, Beechwood.
The Career and Technical All-Star Award was presenter to Rebecca Simpson of Holmes.
Two Student Leadership Awards went to August Snelbaker of Conner and Lucidious Witt of Pendleton County.
Navigo Scholars awards, to students in a special one-on-one mentoring program preparing them to move from school to a career track, went to:
Liea Mack, Withrow High School;
Kevin Hamblin, Grant County High School;
Nic Rovito, Lloyd High School;
Sadi Jones, Lloyd High School; and
Gary Llackey, Withrow High School.
Presenting sponsor of the event was Central Bank. Other top sponsors included The Bank of Kentucky, Duke Energy and PNC.
The Northern Kentucky Education Council is headed by executive director, Polly Lusk Page. It is a collaborative organization that aligns education initiatives in Northern Kentucky and serves as a catalyst for change, progress and excellence in education. See more at www.nkyec.org.
