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An advisory body to Pima County and the City of Tucson, and nonprofit organization 

Celebrate Service to Education at An Evening to Empower(ED)

Building on a 30 year legacy of the Crystal Apple Awards, Pima County and the City of Tucson are proud to celebrate the reprisal of a celebration of service to education on May 9, 2025 at the Pima Community College Aviation Technology Center

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Rex Scott

Chair, Pima County

Honorary Co-Chair

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Regina Romero

Mayor, City of Tucson

Honorary Co-Chair

Join us in honoring those who empower our communities to learn, serve and thrive.

  • 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Doors Open & Check-In

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

    • Rocque Perez, Exec. Director, Metro Edu Commission

    • Keysha Webb, Senior Vice President, Vantage West

    • Regina Romero, Mayor, City of Tucson

    • Rex Scott, Board Supervisor and Chair, Pima County

     

    6:50 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Break & Dinner Service

    7:00 p.m. - 7:10 p.m. | Remarks from Special Guest​s

    • Cecilia Mata, Chair, Arizona Board of Regents

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

    7:40 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Presentation of Awards​

  • Each ticket includes refreshments and a three course meal including salad, your choice of entree, and a dessert.

    Individual Purchase

    $35 | Students

    $60 | Teachers/Counselors

    $80 | General Admissions

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    Group Purchase

    $300 | 4 Seats at Table of 8

    $375 | 5 Seats at Table of 10

    $750 | 1 Table - 10 Seats

    $1,500 | 2 Tables - 20 Seats

  • Since our founding, 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 host the reprisal of a celebration of the 35th annual awards under An Evening to Empower(ED) on May 9, 2025. A complete list of past awardees, viewable here.

Crystal Apples are awarded to people, programs and agencies 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 10, 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.

June Webb-Vignery Lifetime Education Advocate, Bruce Burke

Superintendent of the Year, Gabriel Trujillo, Tucson Unified

Administrator of the Year, Ethan Hurley, Vail School District

Counselor of the Year, Gayle Morrison, Empire High School

Teacher of the Year, Jessica Hunt, Marana High School

Youth of the Year, Owen Brosanders, University High School

Service to Community, Greater Tucson Leadership

Service to Community, Vida Rodriguez, Goodwill of Southern Arizona

Service to Community, Karla González-Quezada, Pima Community College

Student-Serving Financial Institution, Vantage West Credit Union

Exemplary Educators are individuals who demonstrate exemplary service to learners in their academic and professional journeys

  • Honors nine outstanding educators from each K-12 public

    school district in the Tucson metro area, 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 10, 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.

Shawn Smith, Amphitheater High

Renee Shane-Boyd, Catalina Foothills High

Mark Calton, Marana High

Erica Wofford, J. Robert Hendricks Elementary

Elizabeth Dicochea, Anza Trail K-8

Monica Ayon, Los Niños Elementary

Estefania Herrera, Pueblo High

Lisa Scott, Esmond Station Elementary

Jessica Howe, Pipeline AZ

College Catalysts are high schools across with a high demonstration of service and spirit in fostering a college-going environment

  • 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 10, 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.

Sunnyside High School, Sunnyside Unified

Marana High School, Marana Unified

Cienega High School, Vail Unified

Peer Coaches are are high school seniors trained to support their peers in accessing and transition to post-secondary pathways

  • 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 10, 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.

Megan Callahan, St. Augustine

Gabriella Sandoval, St. Augustine

Danica Valenzuela, Sabino

Ripley Ingersoll, Rincon

Katie Lopez Bazaldua, Rincon

Gigi Trujillo, Rincon

Marianna Martinez, Pueblo

Martha Saralegui, Pueblo

Esmeralda Almazan, Pueblo

Brianna Campos Tapia, Pueblo

Adamari Y Robles, Tucson

Mario Valdez Rogers, Tucson

Halimo Mohamed, Desert View

Danielle Jitoboh, Desert View

Sugey Ortega, Sunnyside

Anaira Garcia, Sunnyside

Yareli I. Ramirez, Sunnyside

Sofia Franco, Sunnyside

Daisy De La Rocha, Andrada

Paolo Leatham, Empire

Valeria Montaño Valencia, Empire

Youth Fellows are highly engaged high school students that orchestrate an annual Teen Town Hall and utilize insights to advocate for their peers

  • 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 10, 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.

Alejandro Tavera-Reyes, Foothills

Diya Bhattacharya, Basis North

Nishita Karikatti, Basis Oro Valley

Kobby Sarsah, Basis Oro Valley

Nihar Goulapally, Basis Oro Valley

Emilia Kim, Basis Oro Valley

Anvi Sharma, Basis Oro Valley

Christian Vasquez, Canyon Del Oro

Aralin Cajas, Tucson

Milla Eiklenborg, University

Jenny Tran, University

Brian Nguyen, University

Marryam Didan, University

Owen Brosanders, University

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