The Diocese of Toledo recently honored nine outstanding Catholic school educators at the annual Golden Apple Awards, held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg. This special evening brought together honorees, their families, pastors, principals, and colleagues for a joyful celebration of excellence in Catholic education.
The event opened with a warm welcome from Kyle Kubik, Senior Director of Catholic Education, who reflected on the words of Pope Pius XI in his 1929 encyclical On Christian Education of Youth. Kubik highlighted that the strength of Catholic schools lies not merely in methods or materials, but in the dedication of teachers who love their students and serve out of love for Jesus Christ and His Church.
“These honorees have embraced their vocation of teacher-minister,” Kubik said. “They are producing young men and women that embrace our Catholic school ideals: serving others, high academic achievement, and making our Lord known, loved, and served in their schools.”
After an opening prayer and dinner, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas offered remarks, thanking the teachers for their faith-filled witness and acknowledging the vital role Catholic educators play in the life of the Church. The awards ceremony followed, with each honoree recognized through a video tribute before receiving their award and a commemorative photo with Bishop Thomas.
This year’s Golden Apple Award recipients were:
– Bonnie Brunelle – Central Catholic, Lima
– Jenny Chirico – Lial, Whitehouse
– Sara Dubois – St. Rose, Perrysburg
– Amy Horstman – St. Michael the Archangel, Findlay
– Ruth Pifher – St. Francis Xavier, Willard
– Jessica Rodriguez – St. Patrick, Bryan
– Maria Shultz – Calvert Catholic, Tiffin
– Erin Webb – St. Aloysius, Bowling Green
– Kelsey Zochowski – Christ The King, Toledo
Kubik closed the evening with heartfelt thanks to the Donahue Family Foundation for their generosity in establishing the Golden Apple Award program and sharing it with the Diocese of Toledo. He also thanked the pastors, principals, and teachers who serve faithfully in Catholic schools across the diocese each day.
“Your tenacity, faithfulness, and zeal are the qualities that make our schools at the heart of the Church,” he said. “Thank you!”
Watch a video celebrating each video here:
Posted June 6, 2025 at 12:34 pm