AGAIN: Five outstanding Education alumni named 2026 Golden Apple Award winners
(l to r) Erin Perdue, Tara Johnson, Sara Wright, Lisa Merryman, Ann Hammons, Sarah Harmon, and Celeste Fernandez (Photo courtesy of Greater Lafayette Commerce)
For the fourth time in five years, all five of Greater Lafayette Commerce’s 2026 Golden Apple Award winners are Purdue University College of Education alumni.
The Golden Apple Award recognizes the most outstanding teachers in Tippecanoe County, nominated by students, parents and colleagues. This year, 136 Tippecanoe County educators were nominated by students, parents, colleagues, and administrators – and the five winners are Boilermaker Educators.
As in 2026, in 2022, 2023, and 2025, all five awardees were Purdue alumni. In the past five years, 92% of the awardees were Purdue College of Education alumni.
The 39th annual award ceremony (Feb. 18) recognized these teachers for their passion and excellence in serving young minds of the community. Purdue’s College of Education is a major sponsor of this annual event.
The five Boilermaker Educator 2026 Golden Apple awardees are:
Celeste Fernandez (BA Elementary Education, 2010), a fourth-grade teacher at West Lafayette Intermediate School, teaching for 11 years
“I love being around kids all day because I think kids are the best of humanity,” Fernandez said. “Being around them gives me a lot of hope for the future.”
Ann Hammons (MS Educational Studies, 1998), an English teacher at Harrison High School, teaching for 39 years
“Literature can be relevant – everything that happens has happened since the beginning of time,” Hammons said. “It doesn’t matter what era we’re living in – everybody has the same feelings and emotions.”
Sarah Harmon (BA Elementary Education, 2001), a fourth/fifth grade High Ability teacher at Dayton Elementary School, teaching for 24 years
“Helping those students learn to think critically because no matter what the subject is, that’s of vital importance in math, reading, social studies,” Harmon said. “I’m just trying to give them multiple paths to get the information that they need so that they can be successful.”
Lisa Merryman (BA Elementary Education, 1995), a kindergarten teacher at Woodland Elementary School, teaching for 29 years
“Teaching is a unique job that you get to make a positive impact on your community,” Merryman said. “The number one thing for me as a kindergarten teacher is that I want them to have a positive first experience with school. That’s vital. They have to love to come to school and learn.”
Sara Wright (BA Elementary Education, 2003), a fifth-grade teacher at James Cole Elementary School, teaching for 21 years
“We talk a lot about how we have strengths and differences and how someone may be really good at reading or really good at basketball and so we try to include those things when we have time, highlighting what they’re good at,” Wright said. “My greatest passion is reading. I try to introduce the kids to as many books as I can and I’m always trying to find ways to implement reading.”
Congratulations to all of our outstanding alumni awardees – we’re proud of our Boilermaker Educators!
Sources: Erin Perdue