Teachers receive apples to kick off 2025 Golden Apple awards season

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Golden Apple Foundation handed out apples to 150 schools today as part of its “Apple for a Teacher” day.

Rockford University baseball players helped load cars with apples donated by Schnucks grocery stores.

The apples were then delivered to each teacher at 150 schools in Boone and Winnebago County.

Mark Luthin, a former Golden Apple Award winner and volunteer, said it is important to show teachers that their work is being noticed.

“This is a way for us to recognize teachers now because we know they’re doing hard work,” Luthin said. “We know they’re in the classroom working evenings and weekends getting their classroom ready and grading papers and making plans and everything like that. So, a teacher’s job is never really done. They don’t get summers off and this is just a way for us to recognize the hard work teachers put in and the devotion they have to their kids.”

This year, Pre-K through 5th Grade teachers are eligible to win a Golden Apple Award. Nominations can be made here .

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