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Rex Scott

Chair, Pima County

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Regina Romero

Mayor, City of Tucson

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Lane Santa Cruz

Vice-Mayor, City of Tucson

Building on a 30 year legacy of the Crystal Apple Awards, the City of Tucson and Pima County are proud to celebrate the reprisal of these official education awards in-person. Join us in nominating those who empower our communities to learn, serve and thrive before March 3!

Honorary Co-Chair

Honorary Co-Chair

Honorary Co-Chair

Celebrate service to education at an Evening to Empower(ED)

On May 9, 2025, 6:30 p.m. at Pima Community College Aviation Technology, this premier occasion will recognize the outstanding service of educators, learners, and community partners who advance education in Tucson and the greater Pima County.

PRESENTED BY

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Exemplary Educators are individuals who demonstrate exemplary service to learners and empower them on their journey toward prosperity

  • Honors nine outstanding educators from each public

    school district in Pima County, and one from the greater

    community, for their contributions to success, excellence,

    and mentorship of learners.

    • Amphitheater Unified School District

    • Catalina Foothills Unified School District

    • Flowing Wells Unified School District

    • Marana Unified School District

    • Sahuarita Unified School District

    • Sunnyside Unified School District

    • Tanque Verde Unified School District

    • Tucson Unified School District

    • Vail Unified School District

    Nominees must be located within Pima County and have submit a nomination by March 3, 2025 to be considered.

  • Nominees must be located within Pima County and have submit a nomination by March 3, 2025 to be considered. Each finalist will be determined by a committee of the Commission. Finalists will be notified in their place of learning or work. All ten recipients will be collectively recognized on May 9, 2025, alongside other award categories.

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College Catalysts are high schools across Pima County with a high demonstration of service and spirit in ensuring Seniors pursue a post-secondary education

  • Recognizes five high schools, one within each district of Pima County, that demonstrates a high level of service and innovation in encouraging post-secondary pursuits among its students. Nominees must be located within Pima County and have submit a nomination by March 3, 2025 to be considered.

  • Nominees must be located within Pima County and have submit a nomination by March 3, 2025 to be considered. A total of five recipients will be selected, with one from each District of Pima County, determined by a Committee of the Commission that includes representation from the City, County, and local colleges and universities. Finalists will be notified in-person. All five recipients will be further recognized collectively on May 9, 2025, alongside other award categories.

More about our awards and celebration

  • Since 1991, the Crystal Apple Awards recognized individuals of all ages, programs of all sizes, and organizations of all statures, for notable service to the benefit of early childhood, elementary, middle, high school, and/or post-secondary levels.  The awards were presented each year at an annual celebration. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this celebration was discontinued and the awards were presented annually to recipients in their place of learning or work. This year, the Commission is proud to welcome the 35th annual awards under the reprisal of this celebration under An Evening to Empower(ED) on May 9, 2025.

  • The most recent awardees were as follows:

    2024
    Lifetime Achievement Honoree of the Year - Dr. Linda Arzoumanian, former Pima County Superintendent of Schools

    Youth of the Year - Silvia Mwibeleca, Student, Andrada Polytechnic High School
    Teacher of the Year - Maura McKechnie, Dodge Traditional Magnet Middle School 

    Counselor of the Year - Stephanie Arnold, Sunnyside High School 

    Outstanding College Advocate - Symara Duarte, Coordinator, Outreach and Scholarship, Pima Community College

    Outstanding Student Leader - Aliyah Ravenell, Student, Desert Sky Middle School

    Outstanding Service to Community - Literacy Connects

    Outstanding Service to Community - SARSEF

    Outstanding Community Partner - UArizona Project Outreach FAMILIA

    Student-Serving Financial Institution of the Year - Vantage West Credit Union

     

    2023

    Lifetime Achievement Award - Adelita Grijalva, Pima County Supervisor and Commissioner
    Dr. June Webb-Vignery Advocate Award - Governor Katie Hobbs, The State of Arizona
    Outstanding Teacher - John Contreras, Pueblo High School
    Outstanding Youth - Casandra Chavarria, Sunnyside High School
    Honorable Mention - Sarai Juarez, Sunnyside High School
    Outstanding Student Leader - Hakima Abdulkadir, Sunnyside High School
    Outstanding Counselor - Ashley Tellez, Desert View High School
    Outstanding Higher Education Advocate - Dr. Alexei Marquez, The University of Arizona
    Outstanding Education Advocate - Roberto Cruze, TUSD
    Outstanding Community Partner - The Center for Community Mediation & Facilitation

     

    2022

    Outstanding Teacher - Kelly Strayer, Sabina Vaswani
    Outstanding Youth - Amber Hammerquist
    Outstanding Student Leader - Audrey Alameda, Yamileth Rodriguez
    Outstanding Counselor - Tanisha Tatum
    Outstanding University Advocate - Dr. Kasey Urquidez
    Outstanding Education Advocate - Dr. Matt Matera
    Outstanding Corporate Award - Junior Achievement

    A complete list of awardees dating back to the inaugural presentation, viewable here.

  • Yes! We have numerous sponsorship opportunities, viewable here. Please contact Rocque Perez, Executive Director, at rocque@mectucson.org to explore your specific interest.

  • 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Check-In and Cocktails

    6:30 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. | Welcome and Introductions

    •  Rocque Perez, Executive Director, MEC

    • Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott, President & CEO, Vantage West

    • Lane Santa Cruz, Vice Mayor, City of Tucson

    •  Rex Scott, Board Supervisor and Chair, Pima County

     

    6:50 p.m. - 7:10 p.m. | Dinner

     

    7:10 p.m. - 7:40 p.m. | Recognition of Student Service

    • Poster Contest Winners

    • Recognition of Peer Coaches

    • Recognition of Civic Youth Fellows

     

    7:40 PM – 8:15 PM | Presentation of Awards

    • Presentation of Exemplary Educators

    • Presentation of College Catalysts

    • Presentation of Crystal Apple Awards

Crystal Apples are awarded to exemplary people, programs and organizations of notable service to the educational community as a place to learn and work

  • Please view individual descriptions per award title within the nomination form. The eight title types include: 
     

    • Superintendent of the Year

    • Administrator of the Year

    • Counselor of the Year

    • Teacher of the Year

    • Youth of the Year

    • June Webb-Vignery Education Advocate of the Year

    • Outstanding Service to Community (up to 2 awards)

    • Outstanding Student-Serving Financial Institution

     

    Nominees must be located within Pima County and have submit a nomination by March 3, 2025 to be considered.

  • Nominees must be located within Pima County and have submit a nomination by March 3, 2025 to be considered. One recipient will be selected from a pool of nominees per award title. Each finalist will be determined by a committee of the Commission. Finalists will be notified in-person in their place of learning or work. All nine recipients will be collectively recognized on May 9, 2025, alongside other award categories.

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