Since 2003, the Live Here! Work Here! Awards have recognized individuals and businesses who have contributed to the quality of life in Frederick County, with a special emphasis on education. The awards ceremony celebrates the connection between the business and education communities, and is part of our Anniversary Reception in November.
97th Anniversary Reception & Live Here! Work Here! Awards
Wednesday, November 4 at the Weinberg Center for the Arts
Register now! Click here for more info.
For their outstanding commitment to the quality of education in the greater Frederick community, the Chamber is pleased to recognize:
Frederick County Teacher of the Year: Catherine Alspaugh
New Market Elementary School third grade teacher Catherine Alspaugh is the Frederick County Public Schools 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Alspaugh has been an FCPS employee for 22 years. The Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education.
Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award: Bonnie Velasco
Bonnie Velasco is a veteran educator with 34 years of experience. She currently teaches art to students in grades kindergarten through 5 at Kemptown Elementary School. Mrs. Velasco, in her 14th year with Frederick County Public Schools, is the Frederick County recipient of the Washington Post’s 2009 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.
Distinguished Educational Leadership Award: Mark Pritts
Mark Pritts, a Frederick County public schools employee since 1984 and principal at Middletown Primary School, is the Frederick County recipient of the Washington Post’s 2009 Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.
Benchmark Award: Battelle National Biodefense Institute
The Benchmark Award recognizes an exemplary education program provided by a school system, individual school, business or civic organization.
In less than three years, BNBI has made an incredible impact on education in Frederick County. BNBI’s employees have given backpacks to underprivileged FCPS students, and have volunteered their time to help launch the Maryland Science Olympiad. Through the Frederick County Business Roundtable for Education and Engineering Innovation, BNBI has provided direct and indirect employment for high school science teachers. This Chamber member company also recently announced the development of a new STEM program
for 6th grade students.
Horizon Award: ThorpeWood
The Horizon Award recognizes a business or organization that has provided exceptional work-study, internship, mentoring or similar opportunities to prepare local students for a successful future.
ThorpeWood serves at-risk youth and increases the likelihood of their success through long-term, outcome-based, customized academic support and personal development programs in partnership with their schools and youth organizations. ThorpeWood serves students throughout the region, including Frederick County.
Champion of Education: Orases Consulting Corporation
The Champion of Education Award recognizes a business or organization that has generously supported local education either financially, through the service of its employees/members or both.
Orases is a strong supporter of continued education, and offers a tuition assistance policy as an employee benefit, in addition to flexible work schedules that accommodate academic schedules. This year, Orases also implemented a new internship program through the Frederick County Business Roundtable for Education. A Frederick High School intern has been working at Orases since June, gaining experience by developing a web site for FCBRE and working on other client projects. Orases has plans to expand their internship
program, providing more opportunities for local students.
Lifetime Educator: Richard Ramsburg
The Lifetime Educator Award recognizes an individual whose education career achievements and/or contributions to learning in Frederick County have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of children and families and our community as a whole.
Richard Ramsburg, a thirty-four year employee with Frederick County Public Schools, has taught at four different schools and administrated the Evening High School and Adult Education programs. He also oversees Even Start, now entitled FCPS Parent/Child Family Literacy, a program that serves the English Language Learner (ELL) families and their young children who qualify as most in need for a family literacy program.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out these videos from our 2008 Live Here Work Here Awards.
For more information about the Live Here! Work Here! Awards, contact Jessica Hibbard at 301.662.0745