March of Dimes Presents 15th Annual Golden Apple Awards

Ten faculty members across Long Island were awarded with Golden Apple Awards presented by March of Dimes to recognize their commitment to education.

Who knows why, but a polished apple has always been the go-to gift for a great teacher, and over the years the fruit has become a symbol for education and learning. The March of Dimes takes that idea one step further with its annual Golden Apple Awards, presented this year to 10 outstanding local individuals who have made a difference through their commitment to education. Now in its 15th year, the Golden Apple Awards Gala was held at Fox Hollow in Woodbury on November 3.

The 2011 honorees were:

Patricia Kelly Collins, integrated co-teacher at Lincoln Orens Middle School, president of Island Park Faculty Association, Island Park School District
Arnold Dodge, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Administration, assistant professor of education at Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus
Donna Gianfortone, teacher at Chippewa Elementary School, Sachem Central School District
Regina Giunta, principal of James E. Allen Junior/Senior High School, Western Suffolk BOCES
Mary T. Hickey, Ed.D., WHNP-BC, RNC, clinical associate professor at New York University College of Nursing
Mary Meyers, labor relations specialist for NYSUT, retired teacher in Massapequa School District
Joanne Pappas, teacher at The Green Vale School in Old Brookville
Nicole Rant-Mazza, teacher at Landing Elementary School, Glen Cove City Schools
Bob Spiotto, executive producer of Hofstra Entertainment at Hofstra University
Dr. Suzanne Viscovich, principal of Homestead School, Garden City School District

Roger Tilles, member, NYSED Board of Regents, presented the awards, and committee co-chairwomen included Barbara Fahlbusch, M.S. Ed., kindergarten teacher at Locust Valley Central School District, and Kathleen Velsor, Ed.D., associate professor at SUNY College of Old Westbury.

The gala raised more than $58,000 for prenatal wellness programs, research grants, advocacy efforts, and a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Support® program at Stony Brook University Medical Center. All of these initiatives will help to foster stronger, healthier babies and aid in the effort to decrease the more than 31,000 premature births that occur in our state each year, which often result in death or lifelong disabilities.