
Students and teachers with a passion for learning and a commitment to serving others were honored by the Revelation Masonic Lodge #180 during the 2012 Masonic Public Education Recognition Night, held April 23 at the Aurora Masonic Lodge. One boy and one girl from the junior class and one teacher from each high school in the Cherry Creek School District received the “Outstanding Junior” or “Outstanding Teacher” award. The honorees are:
High School | Junior Girl
| Junior Boy
| Teacher |
Cherokee Trail
| Janaye Matthews | Omer Siddiqui | Tina Kruse |
Cherry Creek
| Grace Rooney | Sirey Zhang | Virginia DeCesare |
Eaglecrest | Lauren Slaughter | Christian Ahrenkiel
| Jonathan Orr |
Grandview | Jireh Pulley | Thomas Stowe
| Loretta Wood |
Overland | Atzin Cabrera Rodarte | Asia Keomanivong
| Gregory Oelrichs |
Smoky Hill
| Abigail Boyer | Eric Paricio | Cynthia Hardy |
“The students are all just amazing,” said Donald Fecko,co-chairman of the Education Committee of the Revelation Masonic Lodge. “They all excel academically and yet we wonder how they have time for school. They’re involved in so many things. They are competent and confident in terms of taking on community service.
“The teachers are so worthy and so appreciative,” added Fecko. “It amazes me that teachers and administrators don’t get the recognition they deserve. They do so much for our children.”
The lodge also presented Chris Hardy, principal of Sunrise Elementary, with the Jack Burns Administrator Award, which recognizes an outstanding administrator at the elementary, middle or high school level. The award is named after the late Jack Burns who was an educator and a Mason who served several years on the lodge’s Education Committee. The award was established after Burns passed away to carry on his legacy and his memory.
Masonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternity for men and Masons, also known as Freemasons, support many worthwhile causes, including education.
“We believe public education is a vital and important part of our society and community,” said Fecko and fellow Education Committee co-chairs John Timmerman and Walter Martin in a letter about the event.
In addition to honoring outstanding high school juniors and teachers, the Masons also offer scholarships to graduating seniors through the Colorado Masons’ Benevolent Fund. For more information, visit
www.cmbfa.org.