April 23rd, 2009 -- Outstanding Delaware County students and teachers were showcased at the region’s premier education recognition event, The Partners In Learning Celebration, which took place at the Corporate Events Center at Drexelbrook, sponsored by the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union.

Honored at the dinner was Delaware County high school students who took part in the 2008-2009 Delco Hi-Q season, 200 scholars in all, along with 21 students selected for the 2009 All Delco Hi-Q Team and this year’s inductee into the Delco Hi-Q Hall of Honor. In addition, 18 outstanding Delaware County teachers received the esteemed Delaware County Excellence in Teaching Award for 2009. Also among these honorees were the five winners of the 2009 John D. Unangst Scholarship, the 2009 Financial Literacy Advocate and the employees of student-operated high school branches of Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union (FMFCU), the celebratory event’s valedictorian sponsor.

The recipient of the 2009 Financial Literacy Advocate was Joanne Goldsborough of Upper Darby High School. Joanne is the Co-Op coordinator and serves as FMFCU’s volunteer liaison for the student branch program. She is a huge supporter of financial literacy and has been influential in the success of financial literacy programs at Upper Darby.

Student-operated branches from Penn Wood, Strath Haven, Springfield, Interboro and Upper Darby received recognition as well as those who participated on the Youth Advisory Board, for their dedication and hard work through the year. Included with the students was Bethany Cheezum, of Interboro High School, who was selected as the Outstanding Student Leader for going above all expectations in her work with the branch as well as in her academics.

Interboro High School was given the 2009 Student Branch of the Year award by John Powers, Vice President of Retail Services. As one of the five student run branches, Interboro and its student employee showed creativity in their marketing initiatives within their school. They went as far as making a commercial to run on the school TV channel to advertise one of their many student geared promotion.

FMFCU Foundation and Delaware County Intermediate Unit members had the daunting task to choose the honored teachers who were to receive the prestigious Delaware County Excellence in Teaching Award. Their peers, their former or present students or students’ families, nominated these educators who were then selected by the panel of on the basis of their extraordinary performance in the classroom, their commitment to education and their students that extends beyond the normal job requirements.

Chosen were 18 teachers altogether, one from each public school district within Delaware County, one from the Delaware County Intermediate Unit as well as one from a non-public elementary, middle and high school.

The honorees included: Janet Barcaro of Interboro High School, Interboro School District; Frances Bordogna of Lynnewood Elementary, Haverford Township School District; Aidan Brett of Springfield High School, Springfield School District; Jeanne Cashwell-Willert of St Cyril of Alexandria, Private Middle School; Lauren Conway of Loomis Elementary, Marple Newt own School District; LuAnn Crosby, Ridley High School, Ridley School District; Katie Durant of Indian Lane Elementary, Rose Tree Media School District; Stephanie Farmer of Park Lane Elementary, William Penn School District.

Rodman Haseltine of The Christian Academy, Private High School; Donna Kowal of Saint Gabriel Parish School, Private Elementary; Jennifer Mabrey Delaware County Intermediate Unit; Jennifer McDougall of Cobuern Elementary, Penn Delco School District; Ed Rayer of Toby Farms Elementary, Chester Upland School District; Michael Rayer of Academy Park High School, Southeast Delco School District; Gail Rudolph, Bethel Springs Elementary School, Garnet Valley School District; Catherine Stambaugh of Strath Haven High School, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District; Gary Vetre of Beverly Hills Middle School, Upper Darby School District; and Lauren Wetten of Hilltop Elementary, Chichester School District.

Each teacher received a commemorative plaque, a $500 cash award and a donation of $1,000 for their school. In addition to FMFCU and its Foundation, sponsors of the Excellence in Teaching Award are the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU), and the Delaware County Daily Times.

Winners of the 2009 John D. Unangst Scholarship, established to honor Unangst’s were James Helm and Joseph Hooker of Penncrest High School; Monica McCa ffrey of Cardinal O’Hara High School; Sydney Pauline of Country Day School of the Sacred Heart; and Scott Hartzell of Interboro High School. Unangst personally funded the scholarship presented to Hartzell, who plans to attend Penn State Brandywine. A graduate of Interboro High, Unangst chooses one deserving Interboro senior each year to receive the scholarship. Dr. Harry Jamison, retired executive director of the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and a member of the FMFCU board of directors presented a $1,500 check for educational-related expenses, plus a commemorative plaque, to each student winner.

This year’s Delco Hi-Q Hall of Honor inductee was the late Dr. Ronald Scott (Ph.D., M.D.) whose distinguished career as a noted scientist and physician tragically ended on March 11, 2004, when the plane he was piloting inexplicably dived into a river in Napa, California. The tragedy that shook the medical community also claimed the life of his wife, Margaret. Valedictorian of Interboro’s Class of 1959, Dr. Scott competed on his school’s Hi-Q team in 1958 and 1959. He used the intellectual gifts that earned him a place on the team to work for the betterment of both the scientific and medical communities.

As a prominent research scientist for RCA’s Sarnoff Research Lab in Princeton, he published about 40 scientific papers. He also invented technology for satellite monitoring that’s still in use by NASA. However, in his mid-30s, he decided to apply his expertise in the field of radiology to the field of medicine. Dr. Scott had his own radiology practice in San Diego, but it was the medical needs of an underserved population that drew him to California’s Imperial Valley. There, he and his wife devoted their lives to building an independent medical facility in El Centro: the Imperial Valley Cancer Center. The renowned center has been formally dedicated to Dr. Scott and his wife in perpetuity.

Delaware County high school stud ents who took part in the 2008-2009 Delco Hi-Q season, 200 scholars in all, received recognition for their participation in the 61st season. Receiving special honors were the three top teams—1st place Penncrest, 2nd place Haverford and 3rd place Radnor. Penn Wood High was also commended as the most improved Delco Hi-Q for increasing the total score by over 300% compared to previous years. For its third place finish, Radnor High’s Delco Hi-Q team received $2,000 for its school, while Haverford’s second place finish earned $2,500.

Penncrest’s 2008-2009 championship team was awarded $3,000 for its school, along with the right to display the Donna Zerby Trophy for a year. The trophy honors the late Donna Zerby, who was closely associated with Hi-Q for more than 40 years and was the first inductee into the prestigious Delco Hi-Q Hall of Honor.

Twenty-one students were selected for the 2009 All Delco Hi-Q Team. These students were featured in a two-page spread in the Daily Times. They also received a commemorative plaque and an All Delco Team shirt.