Ten Educators Honored With Freedom Federal Credit Union’s 2025 Golden Apple Awards

Educators from across Harford and Baltimore County/City Were Recognized on August 13

Freedom Federal Credit Union awards grant funds to its 2025 Golden Apple Annual Education Award recipients (L to R): Rhea Butler, Julia Bailey, Michelle Curry, Mike Homishak, Jessica Todd representing Lisa Brown, Tara Recor, Melissa Berardelli, Amanda Coyne representing Lindsey Gilmour, Melissa Adler representing Taylor Herring, and Jim Renaud.

August 19, 2025 – Freedom Federal Credit Union honored ten local educators at its 14th annual Golden Apple Awards reception, held at Mountain Branch Grill & Pub in Joppa, Maryland on Wednesday, August 13. Established in 2011, the Golden Apple Awards provide grants to help educators bring innovative classroom and schoolwide initiatives to life and enhance student learning.

This year marked the first time the program expanded beyond Harford and Baltimore Counties to include educators from Baltimore City. Freedom also increased the number of grants awarded, presenting ten awards totaling $10,000: two at $2,000, four at $1,000, and four at $500.

The top $2,000 awards went to educators using podcasting technology to give students new ways to learn and lead. Tara Recor of Prospect Mill and Emmorton Elementary Schools in Harford County will implement podcast-powered “learning walks,” blending physical activity with academic enrichment. Taylor Herring of Chesapeake Terrace Elementary in Baltimore County is launching a student-led podcast that will build confidence, communication skills, and leadership opportunities across her school community.

At the $1,000 level, educators are focusing on STEM innovation and sustainability. Jim Renaud of Western Tech High School in Baltimore County will expand engineering opportunities to spark creativity and confidence in his students. Mike Homishak of Aberdeen High School in Harford County gained support for his two newly launched electives in Bacteriology and Zoology, allowing students to experience college-level science in high school. At Edgewood Elementary, Lisa Brown will create both a mobile Makerspace cart and a permanent Media Center station, bringing hands-on STEM to every student in her school. And in Baltimore City, Julia Bailey of Darchei Noam Montessori is co-leading a schoolwide environmental sustainability program that brings science and horticulture to life.

Finally, the $500 awardees are tackling innovative ways to support the whole child and connect learning beyond the classroom. In Baltimore City, Rhea Butler of Success Academy West will establish a calming Wholeness Room to give students and staff a safe space to recharge emotionally. Melissa Berardelli of C. Milton Wright High School in Harford County is bridging algebra with the real world, using motion analysis and data science to show the power of math in everyday life. At Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary in Harford County, Lindsey Gilmour is creating take-home learning kits to empower IEP students and strengthen school-to-home partnerships. And at Patterson Mill High School, Michelle Curry is building a more tactile and engaging pre-school space where her students can gain hands-on experience in early childhood education.

“Each of these educators has taken a bold idea and transformed it into an opportunity to inspire, empower, and support their students,” said Mike MacPherson, President and CEO of Freedom Federal Credit Union. “For fourteen years, the Golden Apple Awards have been a way to give back to the people who dedicate their lives to shaping our communities’ future, and we are proud to continue growing this program.”

The program opened with remarks from Councilman David Marks of Baltimore County, a strong advocate for the awards since their expansion into his community. “As an educator and as a Councilman, I know that partnerships are key to achieving academic success. Just as teachers need to build partnerships with parents to help students, schools need partnerships with the private sector to often get things done,” Marks shared. “Freedom Federal Credit Union deserves a Gold Star for its outstanding support of our teachers and schools.”

Closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Eric Davis, Deputy Superintendent for Operations at Harford County Public Schools, who spoke about the essential partnership between HCPS and Freedom Federal Credit Union. “Freedom Federal Credit Union continues to be an extraordinary partner to Harford County Public Schools,” said Dr. Davis. “They go above and beyond for our staff and students, consistently stepping up whenever there is a need. The Golden Apple Awards are just one example of how Freedom helps spark innovation and encourages educators to dream bigger for their students. We are deeply grateful for Freedom’s ongoing investment in the people who make the greatest difference in our schools.”

Freedom also recognized key partners, including Clever Cat Marketing for the event’s centerpieces, and Comcast and The Maryland Ad Network for helping to promote the program to schools and educators across the region.

In addition to the guest speakers, Freedom was honored to bring together many special guests including the awardees, their families, school administrators, and HCPS Teacher of the Year, Shelby Hultquist, and several members of local government and the HCPS Board of Education.

The annual awards are intended to support Freedom Federal Credit Union members who are employed at a Harford County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, or Carroll County school and have a creative vision for education that can only be met with community support. All applicants were asked to submit an essay demonstrating how their idea would serve their students, class, school, or their local community. To apply for a Golden Apple Award or learn more about the other benefits for educators offered by Freedom, visit freedomfcu.org/golden-apple/.

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering business banking services and consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Harford County. Freedom was founded in 1953 and currently has eight locations throughout Harford and Baltimore Counties. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.

About Baltimore County Public Schools

Baltimore County Public Schools, the nation’s 22nd largest school system, is focused on raising the bar and closing gaps to prepare our students for the future. Thanks to innovative and talented leaders, teachers, staff, and students, BCPS celebrates many honors.

About Harford County Public Schools

The mission of Harford County Public Schools is that each student will attain academic and personal success in a safe and caring environment that honors the diversity of our students and staff. The vision of the Board of Education of Harford County is to inspire and prepare each student to achieve success in college and career.

Freedom Federal Credit Union Selects Eight Educators as their 2024 Golden Apple Recipients

Educators from across Harford and Baltimore Counties Were Honored on August 13

Freedom Federal Credit Union awards grant funds to its 2024 Golden Apple Annual Education Award recipients (L to R): Sara Shoemaker, Lauren Byrd, Sue Nickerson, Jen Olkowski, Savannah Yoder, Lisa Shipley, and Janet Bond. Not pictured: Christopher Hedges

August 26, 2024 – At a reception held at Mountain Branch in Joppa on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Freedom Federal Credit Union honored Ms. Sue Nickerson and Ms. Jen Olkowski, as the grand award recipients of the Credit Union’s 2024 Golden Apple Annual Educator Awards. The program, now in its thirteenth year, offers eight annual educator awards of $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $500, four each to Harford and Baltimore County education employees who may be a deserving teacher, school administrator or school support employee. Golden Apple Award applications are evaluated by a panel of judges made up of Freedom employees, directors, and community leaders from both counties.

The two top grant awards both went to educators who envisioned ways to creatively utilize the outdoor spaces of their respective schools.

Ms. Sue Nickerson, a 1^st grade teacher at Fountain Green Elementary School in Bel Air, is using her $2,000 grant award to build a kinesthetic sensory path around the school. This intentionally designed “Warrior Challenge” obstacle course will support learning experiences by helping young students relieve stress caused by school anxiety, increase their sense of balance, refine their gross motor skills, and help develop their ability to focus as they learn to persevere during the challenges.

Like Ms. Nickerson, Ms. Jen Olkowski, also recognized the importance of making the most of natural spaces, and applied for a grant that would extend the walls of their classrooms. Ms. Olkowski, accepted the $2000 award on behalf of St. Stephen School to create a Montessori/STEM style outdoor learning center for their elementary students. Featuring opportunities for hands on experiments and simulations for project-based learning that aren’t easily accomplished in a traditional classroom space, students will have an accessible outdoor space that contains materials to build, engineer, design, tinker, mimic and solve real-life problems.

Freedom’s Golden Apple Award judges elected to present $1,000 awards to Ms. Savannah Yoder of Perry Hall High School in Baltimore County and Ms. Lauren Byrd of Hickory Elementary School in Harford County. Ms. Yoder is using her award to fund calming boxes to provide students experiencing difficult emotions with an outlet along with additional mental health events at Perry Hall Middle and High Schools. Ms. Byrd is also thinking “inside the box”, as she is investing in classroom transformation tubs, filled with most of what teachers would need to transform their rooms according to several themes at Hickory Elementary.

Four additional recipients were awarded $500 grants. In Baltimore County, Lisa Shipley, Career Navigator for Dundalk High School, is using her grant to expand service projects undertaken by the school’s Leader Academy. Meanwhile, Ms. Janet Bond, who works exclusively with deaf and hard-of-hearing students at White Oak School, is aiming to enrich her classroom and library with inclusive resources that better represent the disabilities of her students.

In Harford County, $500 grants were awarded to Mr. Chris Hedges, 1^st Grade Teacher at Havre de Grace Elementary School, along with Sara Shoemaker, a Spanish Teacher at Emmorton Elementary School. Mr. Hedges, who was represented at the awards reception by his colleague, Ms. Eileen Friel, has plans to create a native pollinator garden so that students can learn about pollination and the importance of insects to the foods we grow. Ms. Shoemaker is the county’s first ever Kindergarten Spanish Immersion Teacher, piloting a new program designed to teach Spanish to the school’s youngest learners. She is looking to use her grant award to create an immersive play experience for her students, pulling inspiration from Disney’s Encanto and Hispanic culture.

Carmen David Mirabile, Senior Vice President of Growth Strategies for Freedom Federal Credit Union, hosted and emceed the reception. “Today, we’ve come together to recognize and celebrate eight educators who are not only dreaming big but also turning those dreams into reality. These educators are trailblazing new paths with their innovative ideas and initiatives and helping to redefine what it means to teach in 2024 and beyond. I am extremely honored for Freedom to be able to support these initiatives, and help bring them to reality,” stated Mirabile.

Ben Richardson, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at Harford County Public Schools (HCPS), offered opening remarks to the attendees. “First and foremost, a special thank you and appreciation to our community partner, Freedom Federal Credit Union. The innovation and sheer dedication from this year’s recipients are truly amazing and I wish to congratulate all the 2024 Golden Apple awardees on behalf of Harford County Public Schools,” stated Richardson.

Dr. Racquel Jones, Chief of Schools for Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), was also in attendance and offered closing remarks to the attendees. “I know in Baltimore County – and I’m sure in Harford County schools as well – we’re in the thick of back-to-school plans. We have a big year ahead of us all. Best wishes to everyone, congratulations to our Golden Apple recipients this afternoon, and good luck for a bold, successful, and rewarding new school year,” said Jones.

In addition to the guest speakers, Freedom was honored to bring together many special guests including the awardees, their families, school administrators, HCPS Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson, HCPS Principal of the Year Ron Wooden, and HCPS Teacher of the Year, Erica Richardson, and several members of local government.

The annual awards are intended to support Freedom Federal Credit Union members who are employed at a Harford County or Baltimore County school and have a creative vision for education that can only be met with community support. All applicants were asked to submit an essay demonstrating how their idea would serve their students, class, school, or their local community.

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford and Baltimore Counties. Additionally, Freedom offers a full line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford or Baltimore Counties. Freedom has been in business since 1953 and has six locations throughout Harford and Baltimore Counties. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.

About Baltimore County Public Schools

About Harford County Public Schools

Freedom Federal Credit Union Donates Face Masks and Thermometers to Harford County Public Schools

August 11, 2020

^{Harford County Public School (HCPS) and Freedom Federal Credit Union leadership and staff representatives gather on the steps of HCPS Headquarters to showcase the new masks that will be distributed to HCPS employees across the school system.}
^{Seated (Left to Right): HCPS Transportation Coordinator Tina Hockaday, representing HCPS support staff, and Halls Cross Roads Elementary School Teacher Laura S. Pohlenz, representing HCPS teachers.}
^{Standing Left from Freedom Federal Credit Union (Front to Back): President and CEO Michael MacPherson, Business Development Director Lisa Snodgrass, and Senior Vice President of Marketing Carmen Mirabile.}
^{Standing Right from Harford County Public Schools (Front to Back): Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Jean Mantegna, and Chief of Administration Eric Davis.}

Freedom Federal Credit Union, in partnership with Harford County Public Schools (HCPS), is providing all teachers and support staff with protective, reusable face masks for the upcoming school year. Six thousand masks will be distributed to all teachers, office workers, food service staff, facilities staff, transportation staff, teacher substitutes, and new hires.

Additionally, 30 infrared no-contact thermometers have been donated by Freedom for use in all HCPS school buildings and offices to supplement similar thermometers already available in each school’s health suite. The $26,000 contribution to purchase the masks and thermometers is intended to show appreciation for every HCPS employee’s contribution and dedication, and to provide critical protective equipment to help support HCPS protocols to keep all HCPS employees safe and healthy during the upcoming year.

Freedom Federal Credit Union was originally slated to sponsor the HCPS Annual Employee Service Recognition Program and Awards Dinner, which they have sponsored since 2013. The program recognized hundreds of employees annually who had reached 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years of service milestones. Due to the statewide closure of schools, and social function restrictions, the 2020 recognition program was cancelled. Freedom, working closely with school administrators, believed that the face masks would be a great way to show appreciation for all HCPS staff- both in and out of the classroom.

Prior to the decision on whether or not the upcoming school year would resume in person or virtually, both Freedom and HCPS administration recognized that many hundreds of staff members will continue to be required to report in person either regularly or periodically, and that all staff, including those working remotely, would continue to need face coverings for use in any public setting.

“In the best of times, we have always made it a priority to show our teachers that we care about their well-being and appreciate their dedication to the children in our community,” stated President and CEO of Freedom Federal Credit Union, Mike MacPherson. “In what now feels like the worst of times, we know that the pressures our educators, and all those who support our education system, face, will be great, and we hope this sponsorship will show our appreciation for all they do while supporting their health and safety.”

Invited to represent HCPS teachers in a photograph showcasing the new masks, Laura S. Pohlenz, a vocal music teacher at Halls Cross Roads Elementary School, recently completed her 30th year teaching for HCPS. Ms. Pohlenz expressed, “I am happy to represent teachers in this partnership with Freedom Federal Credit Union, and would like to personally thank them for this generous gift of face masks to the school system, in an effort to ensure the safety for our students and staff during this time.”

Representing HCPS support staff in this partnership, Transportation Coordinator, Tina Hockaday, who has been with HCPS for 14 years, remarked, “We are extremely grateful for our partnership with Freedom Federal Credit Union. Thank you for thinking of the safety of our students and staff.”
In the July 29, 2020 Superintendent’s Bulletin, Dr. Sean Bulson, acknowledged the contribution. “This year, FFCU has chosen to recognize all employees of HCPS by donating a protective face mask for every employee. By means of this generous contribution, they would like to honor and show their appreciation for the work done by every HCPS employee as we continue to educate the students of HCPS, while maintaining a safe and protected environment for staff and students. We hope that you will join us in expressing our appreciation to Freedom Federal Credit Union for this generous contribution!”

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford and Baltimore Counties. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford and Baltimore Counties. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.

About Harford County Public Schools