USD 457 Teachers Named Semi-Finalists For Crystal Apple Award

A number of teachers from Garden City Public Schools have been named semi-finalists for this year’s Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce Crystal Apple Teacher Recognition program. The Chamber’s Crystal Apple Committee is made up of representatives from the business community who look to honor outstanding teachers in Finney County for their exceptional efforts in education.

The 2026 semi-finalists are: The 2026 semi-finalists are: Alayna Addison, Wiley Elementary School in Holcomb; Jose Alfredo Anaya-Alarcon, Garden City High School; Emily Arellano, Abe Hubert Elementary School; Brianna Boller, Holcomb High School; Buffi Brimm, Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center; Tyrone Gil, Jr., Florence Wilson Elementary School; Ericka Hoff, Kenneth Henderson Middle School; Gene Juno, Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center; Roman Malitan, Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center; Carrie Moser, Jennie Barker Elementary School; Kelly Myatt, Garden City Achieve; Tregg Rodriguez, Holcomb Elementary and Wiley Elementary Schools. 

The Crystal Apple Committee will narrow the 12 semi-finalists down to six finalists in September following individual teacher interviews.  The six finalists will then be observed by three additional Crystal Apple committee members in their classrooms at times unknown to each of the six teachers.

The top three of the six finalists will be named as the 2026 Crystal Apple Teachers of Finney County at a banquet beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at The Refinery, 3122 Cecil Drive. They will receive an engraved crystal apple, a $1,000 cash award, and an iPad. The three finalists will be presented with a cash award of $250.

Tickets for the banquet go on sale at the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce, 1509 E. Fulton Terrace, on October 1, 2026.