Announcing finalists and a special partner for 2017 Champions of Learning Awards celebration
Selection Committees for the Consortium for Public Education’s annual Champions of Learning Awards have chosen 18 finalists in six categories for 2017 and named a candidate to receive a Special Tribute. (Names in all categories are available in this complete roster.)
Winners in each of the categories will be announced at the Champions of Learning Awards Dinner on Saturday, April 1 at the Pittsburgh Marriot City Center. Also to be announced at the event are winners of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Be There Awards. 
(It’s not to early to make reservations. Go to Eventbrite to reserve tickets online or download our mail-in reservations form.)
“We’re pleased to have United Way as a partner at our Champions celebration this year,” said Patti Hoke, who coordinates the event. “Supporting youth is at the heart of both of our awards. ”
“Our Champions awards are designed to celebrate individuals, businesses and organizations that create or support outstanding learning experiences across western Pennsylvania,” she added.
This year’s nominations came from 24 school districts in seven counties as part of a selection process that began in September and drew 80 submissions.
United Way, which is accepting nominations through Thursday, January 12, confers Be There Awards on adults “who go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of youth across Allegheny County.”
The Champions Selection Committees choose finalists in categories including The Arts, Business Partnerships, Classroom Teaching, Community Partnerships, Leadership and Volunteerism. The judges also decided again this year to give special recognition to an individual whose contributions to learning in the region span a career. This year’s Special Tribute will go to William Isler, President of The Fred Rogers Company.
