Lemont's Emily Durham Named Golden Apple Scholar

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois annually honors the “cream of the crop” of future teachers, and for the first time since 2007, a Lemont High School student can lay claim to this most prestigious of awards. Senior Emily Durham recently was cited as one of 175 Golden Apple Scholars in the Class of 2014—the largest class in the 26-year history of the program. Durham and the rest of the 2014 Golden Apple Scholars will be honored by the Golden Apple Foundation at a an induction ceremony on Saturday, May 10, at DePaul University.

A high honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society, Durham has achieved much success both in and out of the classroom. She earned four letters as a varsity cheerleader—earning medals as part of IHSA State Champion squads in both 2011 and 2014—and captained the squad as a senior. A member of the softball program, she also serves on the school’s Athletic Council and in its Physical Education Leadership program.

A participant in student government and community service activities, Durham has contributed her time as a youth cheerleading coach and a bible school leader. She has been involved for four years in the school’s “Breakfast Buddies” program, which gives special needs students and their mentors a chance to come together for breakfast each week. She plans on majoring in special education at Illinois State University.

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois is the largest pre-service teacher-support program in the nation. It recruits and prepares bright and talented high school students for teaching careers in high-need schools throughout Illinois. More than 1,600 future teachers have participated in the program since 1989, and more than 665,000 Illinois high school students have been taught by Golden Apple Scholars since the program’s inception.

Candidates endure a rigorous application and interview process. In exchange for successful completion of a bachelor’s degree and a commitment to teaching for five years in an Illinois “school of need,” Golden Apple awardees receive financial assistance for four years to attend one of 52 public and private universities that take part in the program, and also participate in summer programs such as teaching internships and enhanced teacher preparation.

Golden Apple Scholars receive mentoring, guidance and encouragement from Golden Apple-award winning teachers. The program provides its students with more than three times the amount of classroom and field experience prior to student teaching than non-Scholars receive. The Golden Apple program provides a lifelong professional relationship for its participants. 

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois is a public/private partnership funded primarily by the State of Illinois, corporations, foundations and individual donors.

Prior to Durham, Lemont’s most recent Golden Apple selections came in 2007, when Kelly Kardas ‘07, Sara Michaelsen ‘07 and Lauren Moravecek ‘07 all were honored.

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