Murrieta Teachers Recognized with Crystal Apple Awards

After giving student Erika Reddish a big hug, Vista Murrieta High School teacher Denise Robinson turned toward the audience and said she constantly prays that God helps her be the best possible in the classroom.

"And in here you can say 'let me hear an Amen!' and not get into trouble for it," said the physical education teacher and cross-country coach.

Robinson was one of 53 teachers nominated by local students and honored at Sunday evening's 2011 Crystal Apple Awards. The annual event--sponsored by the Murrieta California Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--is in its fourth year. Students attending Murrieta Mesa, Vista Murrieta and Murrieta Valley high schools nominated teachers who inspire them with their dedication to the profession and their strong moral standards.

“Tonight is all about educators in the city of Murrieta,” said Jeanne McClellan, who oversees public affairs for the church.

McClellan explained that the “soul purpose” of the event is to allow students to honor teachers in the community.

But the students who nominate these teachers aren’t just ordinary teens, McClellan said. These high schoolers attend seminary--or Bible study--at 6 a.m. daily, five days a week for four years.

“I bet most of your other students aren’t even thinking about waking up at 6 a.m.,” she said.

For Mormon students in today’s society, what McClellan dubbed “a 'whatever’ world,” filled with immodest dress, profanity and drug use, maintaining a moral compass is a difficult feat, she said. But teachers, such as those nominated and honored on Sunday evening, make it possible, McClellan said.

When nominating a teacher, students must answer three questions explaining why the teacher is worthy of the reward. A committee comprised of four Church members reviews the answers and selects a finalist from each school.

McClellan read some of the students praises and said she noticed, “integrity seemed to be a real thread in everyone’s nominations.”

Students’ praises ranged from “I can see the light of Christ in her,” and “She is giving and self-less--two key traits of our savior,” to “her classroom smells good.”

Three finalists from Murrieta Mesa, Vista Murrieta and Murrieta Valley high schools were selected from the pool of 53 and one from each high school was the recipient of the Crystal Apple Award. The awards ceremony is presented and sponsored by Mormon churches worldwide, said Tom Smith, president of the Murrieta Stake.

Before presenting the awards, students who nominated the finalists stepped up to the podium and thanked their teacher for being dedicated, ethical educators.

Porter Reddish choked up as he explained that Karen Candaele, his “dedicated” cross-country coach, is stepping down to spend more time with her two young daughters.

Candaele, who ran for the University of California, Los Angeles, said she initially began coaching at Vista Murrieta for herself--for the running. But as she became more enmeshed in the program it became about much more.

For Cody Whitton, his physics teacher, Brad Henegar, is the one who stands out. From the podium the tall and lanky Cody, a Murrieta Valley student, compared God and faith to physics and tied his favorite teacher into it all.

"After all, life is 45 degrees northeast--in other words, an upward battle,” he said.

And just like in the world of physics, “God is constant, the same yesterday and today. He is the truth,” Cody said.

Local dignitaries including Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Ken Young, Paul Diffley, president of the Murrieta Valley United School District board of education, District Superintendent Stan Scheer and Murrieta Mayor Randon Lane, also attended the event.

Recipients of the Crystal Apple Awards were, from Vista Murrieta High School, Karen Candaele, from Murrieta Mesa High School, Anita McCullough, and from Murrieta Valley High School, Brad Henegar.

Nominees from Vista Murrieta were Denise Robinson and Michele Robbins. From Murrieta Valley, nominees were James Furleigh and Todd Thornburg, and from Murrieta Mesa, nominees were Michael Stowe and Joseph Trainer.