2024-2025
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Arjelis Heredia
Middle School Teacher
Children’s Community School
Waterbury, CT
As a teacher, Ms. Heredia has had great success in educating and inspiring at-risk and economically disadvantaged students to achieve greatness in school and at life. Most of her students come from single-parent households that represent a cross-section of Waterbury’s racial and ethnic diversity.
As a single mom herself, Ms. Heredia has earned the admiration and respect of students, parents, and teachers for her loving, no-nonsense, almost motherly approach to teaching.
As an educator, Ms. Heredia uses a unique and engaging curriculum. For example, her students have put on fashion shows conducted entirely in Spanish as a language class. In her social studies lessons, her students learn experientially through debate, bank account openings, and community service. She has a 100% graduation rate from her class, with many students being accepted to private schools and elite early college programs.
We and National Life Group are proud to have Ms. Heredia as this year's Grand Prize winner and are giving her $10,000 to be shared between a $5,000 individual award and a $5,000 donation to her school, plus a trip to the Bahamas in May.
GRAND PRIZE FINALISTS
These educators have received $5,000 to be shared between a $2,500 individual award and a $2,500 donation to their schools.
LIFECHANGER AWARD WINNERS
These educators have received $3,000 to be shared between a $1,500 individual award and a $1,500 donation to their schools.
SPIRIT AWARD
SPOTLIGHT AWARD
Physical Education Teacher
Northfield Elementary School
Northfield, VT