Temecula Teachers Honored at 20th Annual Crystal Apple Awards

The 20th Annual Crystal Apple Awards took place on Sunday, May 5th to honor Temecula teachers who have made a positive impact in the lives of their students. Hundreds gathered at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Pauba Road in Temecula to recognize the achievements of these dedicated educators.

High school students nominated dozens of teachers for the prestigious award. The three recipients of this year's Crystal Apple Awards were Penny Murphy from Chaparral High School, Alexandra Wagner from Great Oak High School, and Jason Charles from Temecula Valley High School.

Dylan Larson, a sophomore at Chaparral High School, presented the award to his American Sign Language teacher, Penny Murphy. Larson expressed his appreciation for all the hard work and dedication that teachers put into their students and the community. "These teachers do so much for the community and all their students,” he said. “It's so nice to be able to show appreciation for all they do."

Alexandra Wagner, another American Sign Language teacher at Great Oak High School, was also honored with a Crystal Apple Award. Wagner, who is also a graduate of Great Oak High School, expressed how humbling the experience was. She said, "You know you're appreciated, but to hear it written down, from different students, is amazing. And to have it in front of a crowd is even more humbling."

The Crystal Apple Awards are an annual event hosted by the Temecula Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to celebrate the contributions of Temecula's exceptional teachers. Congratulations to Penny Murphy, Alexandra Wagner, and Jason Charles—and the many other teachers who were nominated this year—on this well-deserved recognition.