OnPoint Community Credit Union Names Finalists and Circle of Excellence for 2018 Prize for Excellence in Education

PORTLAND, Ore., May 9, 2018—OnPoint Community Credit Union today announced the finalists for its Educator of the Year award, and also named six teachers to the Circle of Excellence. The awards are part of the OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education. The annual contest honors local educators who work to inspire enthusiasm and creativity in the classroom and have made an impact on students and their families. Now in its 9th year, the campaign has awarded nearly $250,000 in prizes to 60 local educators and schools.

Founded in 1932 by 16 school teachers, OnPoint continues its commitment to strengthening local education by supporting students, schools and educators in a variety of ways. The OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education is the cornerstone of OnPoint’s work in education.

On Tuesday, May 22, OnPoint will announce one K-8 teacher and one 9-12 teacher as Educators of the Year, from the list of four finalists below. OnPoint will pay their mortgages for one school year and donate $2,500 to each of their schools. The remaining finalists (one K-8 teacher and one 9-12 teacher) will each receive $2,500 for themselves and $1,000 for their schools.

Educator of the Year Finalists:  

• K-8 Finalist – Lucas Houck – 6-8th Grade
  Corbett Middle School | Corbett School District | Corbett, Oregon

• K-8 Finalist – Sandra Moreno – Spanish Immersion – 3rd Grade
  Vose Elementary School | Beaverton School District | Beaverton, Oregon

• 9-12 Finalist – Janine Kirstein – Choir
  Gresham High School | Gresham-Barlow School District | Gresham, Oregon

• 9-12 Finalist – Holly Neill – Science
  Valor Christian School International | Beaverton, Oregon

Circle of Excellence:  Six teachers have been named to the Circle of Excellence.  These educators will each receive a $1,000 cash prize and a $500 donation to their school.

• Ricky Almeida – Counselor
  West Sylvan Middle School | Portland Public Schools | Portland, Oregon
  

• Matthew Bradley – English & Leadership Studies
  Sisters High School | Sisters School District | Sisters, Oregon
  

• Angela Gausman – 6th Grade
  Cascade Heights Public Charter School | N. Clackamas Schools| Clackamas, Oregon

• Cameron Glogau – 3rd Grade
  Tom McCall Elementary School | Redmond School District | Redmond, Oregon

• J Geurts – Special Education / Math
  Floyd Light Middle School | David Douglas School District | Portland, Oregon
  

• Rich Schuler – Social Studies
  Levi Anderson Learning Center | Northwest Regional Education Service District | Beaverton, Oregon
  

Learn more about the campaign at www.onpointprize.com.

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving more than 345,000 members and with assets of $5.3 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 13 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.