CUAid for Victims of Hurricane Harvey

Help Texans in Need

Helping Those Hit by Hurricane Harvey

The National Credit Union Foundation has activated the online disaster relief system CUAid.coop. This web site helps raise money for credit union people affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Donations may be made directly at CUAid.coop. Alternatively, go to the CUAid PayPal link to use a credit or debit card or a PayPal account. Your restricted donation goes to CUAid.

You can also make a donation via the American Red Cross.

Freedom works to make a difference in our community, and our country. Join us and Belong to Something Special.

Golden Apple-Plus Educator Award

Golden Apple-Plus Educator Award Winners

2017 Golden Apple-Plus Education Award Winners — Freedom’s 2017 Golden Apple-Plus annual Educator Award winners! Pictured are (L to R): Sandra Waltemire, special education teacher at North Harford Middle, runner-up award; Patrice Ricciardi, Freedom Business development Specialist; Paula Pawlowicz, fifth grade teacher at Churchville Elementary, the winner!; Mike MacPherson, Freedom President and CEO; Kim Mayforth, early intervention special educator at John Archer School, runner-up award; and Randy Geyer, Principal, Bel Air High School.

We’re happy to announce that Deborah Pawlowicz has won our 2017 Golden Apple-Plus Annual Educator Award competition. Ms. Pawlowicz wins the top $1,000 prize for her idea to use technology to improve the reading skills of her students.

We support the Harford County education community. Therefore, this annual Golden Apple-Plus Annual Educator Award is for a Freedom member who is also a deserving teacher, school administrator or school support employee. Ms. Pawlowicz is a fifth grade English Language Arts teacher at Churchville Elementary. She states in her entry that she wants her students to read with a purpose, and to be able to really understand and analyze text. This is often a challenge when reading is done on a computer. Therefore, Ms. Pawlowicz recommends buying a website subscription to enable this interaction. Features include a way for both the teacher and students to choose their reading level. This way, students who are struggling readers can read and interact with the same article that gifted readers use. This award allows Ms. Pawlowicz to purchase the needed subscriptions.

Runner-Up Winners

There are two Runner-Up awards with each recipient earning a $250 award. The Golden Apple-Plus Education Award runner-up winners are:

Kim Mayforth, an Early Intervention Special Educator in the Infants and Toddlers Program at John Archer School. Ms Mayforth works with developmentally challenged children from birth to age 3. She proposes the purchase of adaptive toys that promote the learning of cause and effect and intentionality. The toys also foster communication, motor development and social-emotional development.

Sandra Waltemire teaches children with significant intellectual disabilities at North Harford Middle School. Her idea is to purchase supplies and ingredients to help her students apply skills in a real-life-situation — completing a cooking recipe. In the process, functional math skills, such as budgeting, price comparison and measurement are taught. In addition, students learn to independently prepare food at home in the future.

All Golden Apple-Plus Award applicants are asked to submit an essay demonstrating how their idea serves their students, class, school and the Harford County community. A panel of Freedom employees and board members judge each year’s entries.

Freedom Awards College Scholarship

STEM Scholarship Presented June 9

Freedom scholarship winner — Harford County Chamber of Commerce scholarship winner Kassidy Kollmann (L), is shown accepting her award from Mike MacPherson, Freedom President and CEO (R)

Freedom awarded a $1,000 scholarship in the area of science, technology, engineering and math to Kassidy Kollmann on June 9, as part of a Harford County Chamber of Commerce program, hosted at Harford Community College.

Ms. Kollmann is a graduate of C. Milton Wright High School, and is attending the University of Maryland at Baltimore County this fall where she plans to acquire a degree in Physics, and then to have a career in Astrophysics. She was very active in high school as a member of the National Mathematics Honor Society, French National Honor Society, Student Government Association, Sophomore, Junior and Senior Class Councils, Best Buddies, and French Club. She has volunteered at numerous organizations, including Brightview Assisted Living. She participated on the varsity swim team, junior varsity and varsity field hockey team, as well as varsity track and field team. Once Kassidy’s graduate studies are complete, she plans to use her knowledge to obtain a job at a government facility, such as NASA.

Ms. Kollmann was one of ten recipients awarded scholarships through the Education Committee of the Harford County Chamber of Commerce. Sharon Mellor, Freedom’s Human Resources Manager, serves on the committee.