A volunteer from North Ogden has been awarded one of two outstanding volunteer awards for the PTA's 2008 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Education. The Utah PTA Golden Apple Awards 2008 premieres on KUED-Channel 7 Wednesday, May 28, at 8 p.m. This special program features the awards ceremony, in combination with on-site footage shot at North Ogden Elementary.
The PTA honored Michele Blakeslee, selected from volunteer nominees from nearly every school in Utah. Blakeslee was nominated by Becky Fenton, North Ogden Elementary PTSA (Parent-Teacher-Student Association) president, and Becky Judkins.
Her nominators describe Blakeslee as "a quiet, unassuming lady of dedication who keeps our school's rhythm flowing and our students growing." When Blakeslee's son entered kindergarten at North Ogden Elementary, she could see that the kindergarten teachers were overworked and needed support. She went home that evening and prepared a proposal in which she would spend at least eight hours per week helping kindergarten teachers.
Blakeslee's volunteer efforts soon blossomed into much more, however, when she walked in to the library and saw hundreds of new donated books which needed vinyl covers. Blakeslee spent countless hours attaching covers and continues to help the librarian with tasks that must be finished before the library can be closed each school year for the summer.
PTA President Becky Fenton says Blakeslee is very involved in the PTA and highly supports the school carnival, the walk-a-thon fundraiser and other projects. For the past six years, she has called the homes daily of students who are not in attendance. Fenton said Blakeslee also spearheaded a fundraising "Pizza Night" on a monthly basis for the school.
"As a person who chooses to work very hard behind the scenes to make life better for others, Michele is a person of integrity, vision and compassion," said Becky Judkins.
The Golden Apple Awards are funded in part by the Emma Eccles Jones Foundation, Utah Education Network, Educators Mutual Insurance Association, and the Utah Education Association.
The Utah PTA Golden Apple Awards 2008 premieres on KUED-Channel 7 Wednesday, May 28, at 8 p.m., repeating Sunday, June 1, at 6 p.m. Video clips and interviews with each award recipient can be seen on the KUED web site: http://www.kued.org/goldenapples
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Golden Apple Award Recipient Michele Blakeslee Download |
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