Making students a priority; from our community to you, donations create unity.
Helping out our local community is a large part of what defines the generosity of Coller Industries Incorporated. We like to highlight each company that we donate to throughout the year. Each of these donations are typically personal identification related, such as name tags or award ribbons. This donation, however, is of a different nature.
Gary Coller, President of Coller Industries, said, “It makes us more responsible in the community. Hopefully our customers appreciate when they see that we give (donations) to our (neighbors).”
Coller Industries also donated metal name tags for the committee members to wear during the event. These laser engraved name tags were easy to use with the magnetic fasteners.
The Granite Education Foundation, Making A Difference
Whether it’s in your own school community or a neighboring Granite District School, we believe there is nothing more important than improving a student’s life. We strive to lift lives and assist in providing resources to bolster education by uniting individuals, organizations and the business community with the will, passion, expertise and resources needed to solve problems. We are dedicated to giving Granite District students a hand up. That’s a difference you can count on.
So, what is the Excel Award?
The Granite Education Foundation recognizes and honors superior educators, true classroom heroes, the men and women responsible for molding and preparing our children to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. These individuals have a track record of improving student achievement, using innovative instructional strategies and making a difference in the lives of students. These educators are among a select few highlighted annually as Excel Outstanding Educators who are making a difference in Granite School District classrooms.
Although thousands of nominations were submitted for the Excel Award, only 11 recipients were chosen by the Excel Committee and being recognized for their service in education.
Tanja Roller – First Grade, Oakwood Elementary
Danny Stirland – Principal, Granite Park Jr. High
Erin Madrigal – Sixth Grade, Rolling Meadows Elementary
Jessica Sellers – Fifth Grade, Westbrook Elementary
Jody Lynn Tolley – American Sign Language, Skyline High School
Stacie Shields – Reading Specialist, Truman Elementary
Todd Summerhays – Mathematics, Olympus High School
Garett York – Sixth Grade, Cottonwood Elementary
Lisa Foster – Resource, Wasatch Jr. High
Monica Marsing – Sixth Grade, Armstrong Academy
Michele Stillman Gaetz – Second Grade, Whittier Elementary
On April 22, Coller Industries was invited by Granite Education Foundation to attend this year’s Excel Evening of Honors. This evening is a special celebration of the Excel Award Winners. This year 11 individuals were honored for their outstanding achievements as professional educators.
As Coller Industries makes generous donations each year to the foundation, we were able to attend this gala not only as distinguished guests but also as an award presenter. We were able acknowledge Lisa Foster!
“Lisa Foster, a resource teacher at Wasatch Junior High School, knows that children are not numbers or data points, but intricate human beings who deserve to be treated as such. Lisa makes her classroom a safe place for children where they are comfortable and feel they can take educational risks. She knows her students, their families, their friends and what they go through outside of school and in the hallways.”
“Mrs. Foster has helped me through a lot and is patient, funny and always willing to help.” -Student
“This is my third year presenting one of the awards. It’s such an honor to be able to recognize one of Utah’s great educators,” said Gary Coller.
Teachers were requested to join a presenter on stage to receive their award, a $1,000 check and other generous gifts. Each Excel Award recipient received a sculpture, designed by local Utah sculptor Matt Glenn. This sculpture comes in two parts. The bottom portion has the four Granite Education Foundation hand icons from their logo. Each hand symbolized educate, give, volunteer and advocate. The top portion is a student’s hand reaching for a teacher’s hand. This piece can be removed and turned over so that the teacher’s hand is extending up toward the student’s hand.
Coller Industries Incorporated started giving donations to the Granite Education Foundation in 2009 and to day has donated over $37,000. We are happy to continue our annual support of this wonderful foundation. And as employees here at Coller Industries, it is a pleasure knowing that our employer is this generous with their time and money.
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