Educators Celebrated at Dwyer Awards Reception

2024 Dwyer Awards Finalists with Mike Burke,
Deana Pizzo and Edwin Ferguson

(Press Release) WEST PALM BEACH (May 9, 2024) -  The Economic Council of Palm Beach County Foundation hosted a VIP reception at the M/Y Café at Rybovich Marina on April 23, 2024, to honor twenty-eight finalists and sponsors of the Dwyer Awards for Excellence in Education. Huizenga Holdings graciously hosted this special event, which marks the 40th year of celebrating educational excellence in Palm Beach County.
 

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"2024 marks our 40th event celebrating excellence in education in Palm Beach County. We are honored by a record number of sponsors," said Michele Jacobs, President and CEO of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County. "Forty-five organizations are participating in celebrating excellence in education. The excitement is contagious, and we hope our community joins us in recognizing these outstanding educators."
 
Deana Pizzo, Dwyer Awards Chair, welcomed guests and recognized distinguished attendees, including Palm Beach County School District Board members, elected officials, and school district leadership. Superintendent Michael Burke introduced the esteemed finalists representing various categories, including Early Education, Elementary, Middle, and High School Education, Special Programs, STEM Education, and Student Advancement & Career Education.
 
The Dwyer Awards, an annual program developed in 1984 and supported by the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, honors outstanding educators from public and private schools in Palm Beach County with a reception, ceremony, and financial recognition. The program seeks to increase awareness of the exemplary teaching in our community and promote high standards of excellence in education. 
 
The Economic Council of Palm Beach County, comprised of business leaders deeply committed to fostering educational excellence, received nearly 450 nominations for the 2024 Dwyer Awards. Each nominee underwent a rigorous evaluation process by almost one hundred prominent business leaders from Palm Beach County. This meticulous judging procedure culminated in selecting twenty-eight finalists across seven distinct categories, eventually recognizing seven winners, one from each category.
 
Felicia Rodriguez, anchor at WPBF 25, will serve as emcee. The community is invited to attend. Tickets are $45 each and include a cocktail reception at 5:30 pm and the awards ceremony at 7:00 pm. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit https://www.economiccouncilpbc.org/dwyerawards/.
 
The 2024 Dwyer Awards would like to thank the following sponsors: Presenting Sponsor - Hanley Foundation; Excellence Sponsor - Elmore Family Foundation; Award Sponsors - Comcast, FPL, IT Solutions of South Florida, Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, Mariaca Wealth, PNC Bank, and UnitedHealthcare; Finalist VIP Reception Sponsor - Huizenga Holdings; Staging Sponsor - Pratt & Whitney; Teacher Tickets Sponsor - Bank of America; Knowledge Sponsors - Baptist Health, Blue Ocean Capital, The Breakers, Gunster, Kitson & Partners, Oxbow Carbon, and The Weitz Company; Creativity Sponsors  - Jones Foster, Max Planck, SBA Communications, Shutts & Bowen, and Singer Comiter - Michael Singer; Teacher/Student Ticket Sponsors - 2GHO, CareerSource PBC, Dr. Dennis Gallon, Keshavarz, M&T Bank, Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, Tortoise Properties, Urban Design Kilday Studios, and Wellington Regional Medical Center; Media Sponsors - The Palm Beach Post, and WPBF.
 
For more information contact [email protected].
 
About the Economic Council of Palm Beach County:

Established in 1975, the Economic Council of Palm Beach County is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that supports an open and collaborative relationship between the public and private sectors in Palm Beach County. The Council's membership comprises a diverse mix of industries of varying sizes in the area whose leaders have an active and influential role in the community. Learn more about the Economic Council at www.economiccouncilpbc.org. The Economic Council of Palm Beach County Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the Council.
 
2024 FINALISTS

GROW UP GREAT: EARLY ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Cathy Eckstein, Wellington Elementary School
Cindy Fakhoury, Lake Worth High School-Little Trojans Preschool
Heather Orloski, Citrus Cove Elementary School
Nathalee English, Liberty Park Elementary

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Megan Betancourt, Sandpiper Shores Elementary
Brandie Soto, Binks Forest Elementary
Lois Gray, Seminole Trails Elementary
David Allen-LoCaputo, Liberty Park Elementary

MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION
Shakendra Moorer, Bak Middle School
Kristen Karvonen, Palm Springs Middle School
Amy Finneran, Boca Raton Community Middle School
Shannon Solis, Village Academy

SENIOR HIGH EDUCATION
Nayyat Bogosyan, Spanish River Community High School
Kimberly Coyle, Olympic Heights Community High School
Stacy Stephens-Miller, Atlantic High School
Wendy Dublin, Park Vista Community High School

STEM EDUCATION
Cheryl Huey, Jupiter Middle School
William Colman, Howell L Watkins Middle School
Claudia Chavarria, Pioneer Park
Molly Harding, Frontier Elementary

EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION
Chelsey Carr, Lake Worth Middle School
Rita Wicks, Lantana Elementary School
Julie Bee, Allamanda Elementary School
Jessica Maharrey, Palm Springs Community Middle School

STUDENT SUPPORT & ADVANCEMENT
Olga Middleton, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Lori Landes, Omni Middle School
Jessica Bayani, Palm Springs Community Middle School
Janell Leatherman, Emerald Cove Middle School
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