Apples turn golden for education awards

Golden apples grow few and far between, but this year three recipients in the Carson City School District will receive the esteemed Ormsby County Education Association awards.

Cherie Gavuzzi and Stewart Peebles, both from Carson High School, and Carol Antila from Seeliger Elementary School, will be recognized at an awards dinner tonight at Casino Fandango.

Fifteen other employees, who will receive red apples, will be recognized with Light of Education awards. One community member will be recognized as a Friend of Education and two union members' children will be given college scholarships.

"These are the employees committed to their (school) children and peers," said Lynne Trujillo, communications vice president for the association. "They step up to the plate and do many of the activities put on by the school. They generally assume leadership positions. They are just those who truly go above and beyond."

Golden Apple Awards are given to district employees who receive the light of education award a second time. Gavuzzi, 43, received a Light of Education award about 10 years ago. She has been with the district 12 years.

"It was awesome," she said of the first award. "And with the Light of Education awards, you're nominated by colleagues which makes it even nicer. It's people you're working with who commend you."

She has no idea why she was nominated for an award again.

"I don't know who nominated me, and I don't know why," she said. "I'll be in the dark until the dinner when they present it. They usually read some of the nomination letters, so you find out what went on."

Gavuzzi is in her first year as a guidance counselor at the high school. She worked previously as an English teacher at Carson High and guidance counselor at Eagle Valley.

"I started out in inner-city L.A.," she said. "And then came here and started at Carson Middle School. This was years ago when Carson Middle was seventh, eighth and ninth. Then they assimilated ninth-graders into the high school, and I went with them. I'm a walking history."

Gavuzzi has a bachelor's degree in English and criminal justice, an English teaching certification and a master's degree in counseling. She is one of six counselors at Carson High with about 450 ninth- to 12th-graders on her caseload.

"I like the fact that counseling is a way to work with kids that's a little less structured than it is in the classroom," she said. "I think it gives me a bit of freedom to work with the kids and get to be a part of their excitement of their choices."

The union gives out the Light of Education awards annually, and has done so for at least the past 20 years. The number of recipients nominated from each school is based on the percentage of union members at each site.

"It's very motivating (to receive an award)," Trujillo said. "It's a way for peers at your school to say thank you for the great job you do and thank you for being such an inspiration in your classroom."

• Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

Carson High School: Bill Barbie, Jennifer Gray, Cherie Gavuzzi*, Stewart Peebles*, Shawn Schneider

Carson Middle School: Tiffany Ferguson, Terry Johnston

Eagle Valley Middle School: Chris Nerska, Cathy Barbie

Fritsch Elementary School: Angie Page

Empire Elementary School: Susan Squires, Nan Foltz

Seeliger Elementary School: Carol Antila*, Jill Steel

Mark Twain Elementary School: Dorthea Doyle

Bordewich-Bray Elementary School: Alicia Klaich

Fremont Elementary School: Ann Williams

Student Support Services: Heidi Leifson

*Asterik indicates two-time winners

Scholarship awards: Sarah Hutchinson, daughter of Robin Hutchinson; and Stephen Maples, son of Susan Maples

Friend of Education award: Debbie McDonald