On May 5, H-E-B awarded a total of $480,000 in funding to statewide winners of the 22nd annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. This recognition is designed to honor outstanding public school professionals and to thank them for their dedication and commitment. Through this program, H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile each and every day to serve their students and their communities and who inspire others to do the same.

During the award ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in Houston, two ATPE members received an award in their respective category:

Michelle Cavazos from Blanca E. Sanchez Elementary in McAllen ISD won the Rising Star Elementary award. The Rising Star Award honors promising teachers with less than 10 years of experience, and she will receive a $5,000 check and a $5,000 grant for her school.

Veronica Stapper from Glenmore Elementary in San Angelo ISD won the Lifetime Achievement Elementary award. This award honors teachers with more than 20 years of experience, and she will receive a $25,000 check and a $25,000 grant for her school.

Since 2002, H-E-B has awarded more than $13 million in cash and grants to Texas teachers and schools and is the largest of its kind in the state of Texas and the nation. This year’s winners were selected from a pool of 68 finalists by judges who include former winners, school administrators, and university and community leaders.