The 10th annual Crystal Apple Awards were held Sunday, May 1st at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Aliso Viejo. The Crystal Apple award is a special way for students at Aliso Niguel, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills and Dana Hills high schools to recognize and thank the teachers who have had a positive impact on their lives. These awards are chosen by the students themselves, and mean a lot to the teachers who receive them.
The Awards ceremony was hosted by former NBC4 news anchor Chuck Henry and was well attended by students and families from all four high schools, cheerleaders from Dana Hills and Aliso Niguel High Schools, community members, all four high school principals, city council members from Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Woods; and trustees from both the Saddleback Valley and Capistrano Valley school boards.
Two teachers from each high school were awarded the Crystal Apple this year. Our 2023 winners are:
ALISO NIGUEL HIGH SCHOOL - monica bhaskar and Cassidy Walker
DANA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL - nicole lovett and matthew rosa
LAGUNA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL - meghan minguez-marshall and john shanahan
LAGUNA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL - timothy marklevitz and robert snyder
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - LAURA OTT
To celebrate our tenth anniversary, a Lifetime Achievement award was given for the very first time to Laura Ott, a former English and Drama teacher from Laguna Hills High School who went on to work at Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Her former students shared the ways Mrs. Ott changed their lives and applauded her lifelong dedication to education.
The evening wrapped up with a musical number by Aliso Niguel High School Madrigals members Maci Whitesides and Sophie Lowry, who sang “Be True to Your School” accompanied by ukelele. Handel’s ice cream was served to all in attendance following the awards. We appreciate all who came to show support for these amazing teachers! Nominations for our next Crystal Apple Awards will begin in April of 2024.
Watch this year’s awards ceremony and hear why each of these amazing teachers were chosen by their students: