19 Educators to Be Honored Thanks to Wilks Foundation Legacy

Harry T. Wilks Hamilton Celebrates Education event scheduled for October 19 

Hamilton, OH – Nineteen local educators will be recognized at the 20th Annual Harry T. Wilks Hamilton Celebrates Education event on Wednesday, October 19 at the Courtyard by the Marriott in downtown Hamilton. 

“Mr. Wilks created a legacy of honoring education,” says Katie Braswell, Vice President of the Hamilton Community Foundation. “And we are proud to continue that legacy by recognizing deserving educators, with the support of the Harry T. Wilks Foundation.” 

19 area schools have nominated someone from their campus to be recognized, including teachers, nurses, and front office staff. All 19 honorees will receive a $1,000 grant from the Hamilton Community Foundation to be used in their classroom or at their school. In addition, each will receive a piece of custom glass art made by InsideOut Studio. 

“We’re very pleased to recognize so many outstanding educators once again this year,” says Braswell. “Carrying on the tradition of the late Mr. Wilks and his tremendous generosity to the community and to local education is something we’re proud to do.”

Local schools are asked to consider the daily impact their nominee has on students, community and the school and provide examples of innovation and leadership.

 “Each year we are impressed by the caliber of educators in our local schools,” says Braswell, “and this year is no different.”

The 2022 “Hamilton Celebrates Education” Educators of Excellence are:

·         Heather Adams, Intervention Specialist at St. Peter in Chains School

·         Kristy Bailey, Secretary at Crawford Woods Elementary School

·         Emily Blasbaugh, 5^th grade Language Arts teacher at Bridgeport Elementary School

·         Michelle Beck, 1^st grade teacher at Linden Elementary School

·         Karen Bultman, Kindergarten teacher at Fairwood Elementary School

·         Melissa Carmody, Intervention Specialist at Garfield Middle School

·         Tracy Francis, Speech Therapist at The Miami School

·         Becky Huber, 2^nd grade English teacher at Highland Elementary School

·         Cara Kerchner, Nurse at Brookwood Elementary School

·         Sarah Martin, 1^st grade teacher at St. Joseph Consolidated Schools

·         Zach Mills, 6^th grade teacher at Ridgeway Elementary School

·         Krisstina Monnig, Music teacher at St. Ann Catholic School

·         Melissa Moser, STEM teacher at Queen of Peace School

·         Mike Neri, English teacher at Hamilton High School Main Campus

·         Gabby Sims, English/ESL teacher at Hamilton High School Freshman Campus

·         Amy Soldner, Preschool Director at Immanuel Lutheran School

·         Michelle St. Laurent, Math Coach at Riverview Elementary School

·         Wendy Tuttle, Data App Specialist at Wilson Middle School

·         Paul Zimmerman, Social Studies teacher at Stephen T Badin High School

The event will include student musical entertainment by students from Hamilton and Badin high schools.

Harry T. Wilks, a local attorney and benefactor, passed away in March 2014 at the age of 89. A 1943 graduate of Hamilton High School, Mr. Wilks was a longtime donor and supporter of charitable causes in the community. Having a lifelong belief in the importance of education, Mr. Wilks established a fund at the Foundation to provide program grants and honor dedicated educators. A tireless supporter of the arts, Mr. Wilks brought international recognition to the community by establishing Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park.

Founded in 1951, The Hamilton Community Foundation (HCF) has the largest collective impact on the quality of life in Hamilton, Ohio. By professionally managing more than 1,000 individual, family and corporate funds, as well as nonprofit agency endowments, the Foundation awards more than $5 million in grants and scholarships annually. HCF works to address new and emerging issues of community concern, while remaining focused on health and social issues, education and community revitalization. As the largest community foundation in Butler County, HCF is a public charity with $140 million in assets.