Founders Day Awards
2020 Founder's Day Award Winners
Bennie PTA congratulates the following winners of the 2020 PTA Founder's Day Awards:
Outstanding Support Personnel - Tiffani Martin - Instructional Aide
Outstanding Educator - Dayna Davis - 2nd grade
Distinguished Service - Keri Krakow - PTA Treasurer
Outstanding Program - An Unexpected Art Contest - Sheila Monahan
2020 Founder's Day Award Nominations
Founders Day is a reminder of the substantial role that PTA has played locally, regionally, and nationally in supporting parent involvement and working on behalf of all children and families. It's a time to reflect and take pride in our many accomplishments, and to renew our commitment to be a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public education.
The Allen Park PTAs and PTSAs give awards in multiple categories for each school. Nomination forms for the awards can be downloaded from the links below. You can also review past recipients of the different awards below.
Outstanding Program – The goal of the Outstanding Program Award is to recognize a program that demonstrates the mission of the Bennie PTA and that is deemed successful by staff, students and parents. Each unit may submit one program that it has sponsored from Founder’s Day 2016 to Founder’s Day 2017.
Outstanding Business Partner – The goal of this award is to recognize a business that Bennie PTA has partnered with between Founder’s Day 2016 and Founder’s Day 2017. By entering into partnership with this business, Bennie PTA may have been able to carry out a program or event, or enhance an existing program or event that demonstrates the objectives of PTA. Some examples of a business partnership might be local merchants that donated prizes, food, or merchandise that your unit used for parents/students during your various activities throughout the year.
Outstanding Student – The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding student at the middle school/high school level. This student has shown one or more of the following traits: outstanding leadership, character, service or performance academically or socially. This student has contributed overall to make Bennie PTA a better place. There will be one student from the high school and one student from the middle school who will receive this award.
Support Personnel – The goal of this award is to recognize a person that demonstrates professional excellence and a commitment to the students of our school. This person is someone in your building who gives tirelessly and without looking for praise. It should be a person who assists in the overall educational process that is a non-certified staff member (ex. paraprofessional, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, etc.) that helps to better the lives of children and the building in which they represent. They are someone who goes above and beyond the role of “support personnel.” Each unit may select one individual to receive this award which will be presented at the Founder’s Day Dinner. Four years must elapse before a past recipient of this award can again be eligible for nomination in this category.
Outstanding Educator – The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding certified educator from Bennie who has demonstrated professional excellence and commitment to the students of our district. When making your selection, consider the educator’s relationship with students, parents, and the community. Consider how the educator builds on strengths and overcomes weaknesses, recognizes differences among students, and inspire students academically and personally. Consider how the educator initiates and supports communication between parents and students, and between parents and educators. Also consider how the educator links the classroom and the community.
Each unit may select one individual to receive this award. Five years must elapse before a past recipient of this award can again be eligible for nomination in this category. The award will be presented at the Founder’s Day Dinner.
Distinguished Service – Somewhere in your PTA/PTSA is a member who has given unselfishly and tirelessly throughout the year to better conditions for children and youth which reflects the real purpose of the Bennie PTA as child advocates. It should be a member who has brought new meaning and direction to your unit and whose actions demonstrate the PTA/PTSA objectives. Each unit may select one individual to receive this award. Three years must elapse before a past recipient of this award can again be eligible for nomination in this category. The award will be presented at the Founder’s Day Dinner.
Council Member of the Year - This is one of the highest honors awarded by the Allen Park PTA/PTSA Council. Council is comprised of local PTA/PTSA units organized to bring the power of united planning and efforts to resolve community-wide problems affecting children and youth; it engages in worthwhile community service projects. Within the Council membership there is a person who has given unselfishly and tirelessly throughout the last year to better conditions for our youth. They have assisted in Council sponsored projects, programs and special events which reflect the real purpose of the PTA. This award is to honor outstanding council level leadership, a commitment to children’s advocacy and a genuine passion for PTA. Two years must elapse before a past recipient of this award is again eligible for nomination in this category. Individuals may submit unlimited numbers of nominations to Council to be considered for the COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD. The Council will select one recipient and the award will be presented at the Founder’s Day Dinner.
Michigan Honorary Life Membership – Because an Honorary Michigan Life Membership is the highest honor that a PTA/PTSA can bestow, it is an especially significant way to honor worthy persons in your school, community, state.
The honored person is usually someone who has given outstanding service for many years to children, someone who has promoted children’s well being by serving as an advocate for children in such areas as education, health, safety and legislation. The honoree need not be a member of the PTA/PTSA nor be well known beyond his or her own area of service.
Think of people in your district or community who your PTA/PTSA might like to honor with the Michigan PTA Life Membership; people who care about children and have made their caring count by their devoted service to children and youth.
Individuals may submit unlimited numbers of nominations to be considered for the MICHIGAN LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARD. The Council will select one recipient and the award will be presented at the Founder’s Day Dinner.
Descriptions of the qualifications for these awards are described in the nomination forms. Please submit your nominations for Bennie school supporters or program that you feel best represents the mission and vision of PTA by completing the nomination form at the links above and returning it to Mrs. Magee (the school secretary) in the Bennie office in an envelope marked "Founders Day Nominations" by November 30, 2016. Nominations can also be emailed to Keri Krakow (asherbowen17@yahoo.com)
Join us at the December 08, 2016 Bennie PTA meeting to hear all the wonderful nominations and to vote to select the best of the best to receive the award.
Past award recipients
2017
Outstanding Support Personnel - Sue Hodges - Paraprofessional
Outstanding Educator - Kristie Lauth - 1st grade
Distinguished Service - Jenny Bireta - PTA Secretary
Outstanding Program - Family Game Night - Jenny Bireta and Wendy Haverlock - Co-chairs
Outstanding Business Partner - Biggby Coffee - Allen Park (Southfield Rd. location)
2016
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Teri Simonds
Outstanding Program: Bingo for Books - Ysenia Houchins & Kristie Lauth
Distinguished Service: Dr. Janine Hall
Outstanding Support Personnel: Mrs. Debbie Brown - Lunchroom Staff
Outstanding Business Partner: Jets Pizza - Allen Park
2015
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Maureen Klein, Ms. Jamie Van Dongen
Outstanding Program: Bennie Garden Club - Mrs. Klein's Program
Distinguished Service: Ysenia Houchins - Bennie PTA President
Outstanding Support Personnel: Mrs. Laura Jones - Student Advocate
Outstanding Business Partner: Home Depot - Allen Park
2014
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Nicole Quisenberry
Outstanding Program: Mardi Gras of Math
Distinguished Service: Mikeala Wilson
Outstanding Support Personnel: Mr. John Brataniec ("Mr. B.")
Outstanding Business Partner: Target
2013
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Melanie Flood
Outstanding Program: Run Club (Mrs. Klein, Mrs. Dybdahl, Mrs. Cunningham)
Distinguished Service: Bonnie Remenapp
Outstanding Support Personnel: Miss Louise Dalbo
Outstanding Business Partner: Whipple Printing
Outstanding Council Member: Sandy Winkler
Michigan Life Membership –Carole Vettrus
2012
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Karen Zakhar
Outstanding Program: Literacy Walk (Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Artman)
Distinguished Service: Juli Reay
Outstanding Business Partner: Chappawala Family McDonald's (Ms. Rhonda Clancy, community relations)
Outstanding Support Personnel: Mrs. Debbie Gladden
2011
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Maureen Klein
Outstanding Program: Read At Night
Distinguished Service: Rick Waun
Outstanding Business Partner: Primo's Pizza
Outstanding Support Personnel: Mrs. Casey Dauzet
Outstanding MS or HS Student: Ashley Remenapp
2010
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Sara Metzger
Outstanding Program: Read At Night
Distinguished Service: Cathy Trimble
Outstanding Business Partner: Wendy's
Outstanding Support Personnel: Allison Hagedorn
Council Member: Diane Peyton
2009
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Valerie Bowdell
Outstanding Program: Holly Jolly Ball
Distinguished Service: Robynn Riley
Outstanding Business Partner: Allen Park Masons
2008
Outstanding Educator: Mrs. Sandy Artman
Outstanding Program: Reflections
Distinguished Service: Sue Mac
Outstanding Business Partner: Roosevelt Lanes
Outstanding Council Member: Marion Jenkins
Michigan Life Membership: Sharon Broglin