Maine Education Association presents Golden Apple to local school employees

Each year the Maine Education Association sponsors an award for volunteers called the “Golden Apple Award.” The award is open for nominations to all school districts in the state. This year, Joellen Merry, a teacher at Southside School, submitted the names of Margaret Hill, school secretary; Lindsay Martin, special education teacher; and Rhonda Shaw, a fourth grade teacher, for the award.
These three individuals have maintained the Ski For Life program at their school for the last several years. They accompany several dozen students on many Friday nights throughout the winter to Bigrock Mountain in Mars Hill.
Hill oversees the permission slips, money and advertising. Together they pack an evening meal and warm gear for the students. Once at the mountain, they assist the Bigrock personnel in helping teach the students how to ski. They also ski with them down the trails. These individuals have given many hours to students, so that they may acquire a life-long skill. Many of the students may never have been exposed to this sport if it hadn’t been for these three individuals.
The award was presented at a dinner in South Portland at the Marriot Sable Oaks on May 17 by MEA President Lois Kilby-Chesley. The keynote speaker was United States Congressman, Mike Michaud, who is also a candidate for governor of the state of Maine.