Ms. Hamner truly stands out in her vital role as a school crossing guard. Each day, rain or shine, she goes above and beyond to ensure our students arrive and leave school safely. Ms. Hamner's dedication and commitment to the safety of our children is truly appreciated. We extend our sincere gratitude to her and all of our incredible crossing guards who work diligently to keep our students safe on their journeys to and from school. Thank you so much for your work!

Rick's expertise as a master gardener has been essential in supporting school gardens at multiple PPS schools. Rick is always willing to assist with garden clean-up tasks and enjoys teaching children in the classroom about planting seeds and fostering a hands-on connection to nature. In addition, he is devoting a significant amount of time to helping with the Charter Oak Community School Garden project.

Dr. Buckner is a true Hero, always going above and beyond to support her students' academic and personal success. Over the past decade, Dr. Buckner has also been a key advisor and a huge support in the implementation of the Horizons Club program across the district, being a primary contact at many schools over the years. We are so grateful for all the advice and work she has done to make Horizons an impactful success.

Tagwana is charged with the implementation and oversight of the hugely impactful Lights on Peoria grant program, and helps coordinate career development in the high schools. She has always been a champion of the PPS Foundation with both volunteer time and donated talents, being a guest on our Facebook Live Buzz Chats and providing supports for our career program growth. Thank you, Tagwana, for all your hard work! We appreciate you.

Coach Nelson's unwavering commitment to her students is evident in everything she does, from her role as the Head Coach of the Girls Basketball team, to her support of dances and events. Her tireless efforts as an educator both in and outside of the classroom make her a shining example of excellence. Congratulations Coach Nelson, and thank you for your incredible impact on the students at Manual High School!

Kim is a teacher at Manual High School (and a 2022 PPS Foundation Classroom Grant recipient!). She considers her students family and works tirelessly to provide an exceptional educational experience for them. She bakes them homemade cinnamon rolls, makes sure each day starts with a hot breakfast and gives them Christmas gifts each year. Our HERO award was started in 2019 to recognize employees and community people who go above and beyond in working with our PPS students. Kim truly does this and it was such an honor to give her this award from the PPS Foundation. Congrats Kim!