Avondale School District Students and Teachers Honored at Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Awards Dinner

Avondale School District, an achievement-oriented learning community focused on student leadership and success in academics, the arts and athletics, announces that nine district students and their teachers were honored on March 11^th at the annual Excellence in Education Awards dinner, sponsored by the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce and held at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Designed to promote the link between business, education and the community, excellence in Education captures the qualities of excellence in both students and their teachers.  Students are selected on the basis of community service, academics and involvement in extra-curricular activities.  Selected students name a teacher who has made a difference in their lives.  The event honors students from the Avondale School District as well as the private schools in Auburn Hills: Oakland Christian and Auburn Hills Christian. The following Avondale students and teachers were honored:

• Isabelle Donaghy, Auburn Elementary; honored teacher, Melissa Fortino
• Claire Matthews, Deerfield Elementary; honored teacher, Mary Cowan
• Torey Coleman, R. Grant Graham Elementary; honored teacher, Kathie Stock
• Andrew Plumer, Woodland Elementary; honored teacher, Linda Curry
• Maggie Youngs, Avondale Middle School; honored teacher, Mary Nofs
• Benjamin Zaremba, Avondale Middle School; honored teacher, John Biegun
• Craig Marshalek, Avondale High School; honored teacher, Amy Brown
• Lee Cleaveland, Avondale High School; honored teacher, Aaron Donaghy
• Raquel Jefferson, Avondale Academy; honored teacher, Michelle Musielak

Additionally, Sam Spurlin, a 2005 Avondale High School graduate and a 2001 Excellence in Education honoree, received the Special Alumni Student Success Award. Spurlin received a degree in education from Bowling Green State University in 2009 but ultimately pursued a different path through his website, www.SamSpurlin.com. The website focuses on personal development and simple living and was the impetus for Spurlin’s interest in positive psychology.  He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Positive Developmental Psychology at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) in Claremont, California and was recently accepted to Claremont’s Positive Organizational Psychology Ph.D. program.

“Excellence in Education is a highly anticipated event each year for the Auburn Hills school communities. Excellence in Education not only honors students and teachers, but recognizes the encouragement our students receive from their parents, mentors and the broader community,” said Avondale Superintendent Dr. George Heitsch. We are very appreciative of the Auburn Hills Chamber and its member companies to support our collective efforts in developing students who will be lifelong learners and contributors to the workplace and society.”

Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus
Communications; 248.651.7536; cell: 586.817.8414; barbara@eafocus.com; Sue Briggs, Avondale Schools; 248.537.6041; susan.briggs@avondale.k12.mi.us

About Avondale

Avondale School District is a collaborative community of teachers, staff and families working together to assure student success. The district, encompassing portions of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Troy and Rochester Hills, celebrates the richness of a diverse student population and strives to be a model school community that prepares students to be lifelong learners and contributing citizens to the world that awaits them upon graduation. Learn more about Avondale Schools, an AdvancED certified district, at www.avondale.k12.mi.us.