Jeff Phillips, Automotive Service Instructor at the CCC Columbus Technical Campus, was selected as the 2011 Golden Apple Award Winner for Excellence in Teaching from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

At the Annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner, Phillips was recognized for his dedication to his students and contributions to their education.  Educators are nominated for this award by their students.

The purpose of the Golden Apple Awards Program is to recognize excellence in the teaching profession and to inform the public of the exceptional quality of instruction in the Columbus community. The Golden Apple Award program is the community’s opportunity to recognize the tremendous resources it has in its teaching professions.

One teacher is honored in each of the following categories: kindergarten through sixth grades and seventh through post-secondary.  To be eligible, a nominee must be a certified classroom teacher who instructs students on a daily basis; may teach at any grade level from kindergarten through twelve in USD 493; or at the Columbus Campus of CCC, and who has been with USD 493 or technical campus of CCC for at least 3 years. Nominees must be teaching during the 2011/2012 school year.

The recipients are interviewed by a panel of independent judges from outside of the Columbus Community.