St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy has awarded the Fr. Henry Birkenhauer, S.J., Award for Outstanding Educators to five teachers who were nominated by SJJ freshmen as influential people in the K-8 experience. These recipients are Sr. Gianna Marie Borochers, OP (St. Michael Catholic School Findlay); Matt Ferguson (Perrysburg Jr. High); Brandon Floro (Otsego Jr. High); Matt Johnson (St. John’s Jesuit Academy); and Jess Thacker posthumous (Trinity Lutheran School). The St. Peter Faber, S.J. Outstanding Administrator Award recognizes an Administrator who has been nominated by a student as influential and a positive role model in leadership in the K-8 experience. This award goes to Lynn Hunter (St. Patrick of Heatherdowns School).
Named for two beloved and influential Jesuits who embraced the mission of Christ through a calling to educate, the awards were given to recipients as determined by students in an essay assignment submitted in September. Affectionately called the Kindle Awards, they recognize the extraordinary efforts of grade school educators who light the world on fire through their students.
Each winner was presented with a plaque and a check for $1,000 at The Kindle Awards Dinner at St. John’s Jesuit on December 9th. Chris Knight ’78, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, said “We recognize that many dedicated administrators and educators play an important part in the education and formation of our students before they join our high school community. We’re grateful for the opportunity to establish these annual awards, named after two extraordinary Jesuits, to acknowledge the contributions of all those who have helped our freshmen on their journey to St. John’s Jesuit and ultimately to academic success.”
