Darling receives Golden Apple award
BY EARLENE WARD - SPECIAL TO THE SIERRA STAR

SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Yosemite High School Principal Steve Raupp with Laura Darling, recipient of the Golden Apple award from the Yosemite Joint Union High School District.
YHS Scholarship Recipient
Heather Hyatt

Laura Darling was selected as Yosemite Joint Union High School District’s Golden Apple award recipient this year. The award is given through the Mariposa / Madera Charter of the Association of California School Administrators.

Each district gives a Golden Apple to a person who has given exemplary service to the district and each high school district awards a scholarship to a senior.

Heather Hyatt was the YJUHSD scholarship recipient.

Darling and her husband, Jim, and Heather and her parents Randy and Jeannette Hyatt, were guests at the awards dinner in Chowchilla, May 9. Yosemite High School Principal Steve Raupp presented the award to Darling and YHS Counselor Bob Yohn presented the scholarship to Hyatt.

Darling, an employee of Sierra Telephone, makes a significant contribution to all schools in Eastern Madera County, Raupp noted. Among her contributions to the betterment of education are: chair of the Eastern Madera County Showcase of Schools; chair of the Pitman Award Dinner that honors YHS valedictorians; participant in Challenge Day at YHS; board member for Senior Project presentations; YHS Distinguished School visiting committee member; and active in many projects for the Children’s Museum.

Darling works with Sherry Colgate at Sierra Telephone. Colgate received the District’s Golden Apple Award several years ago for her many contributions to education. Although unable to attend the awards dinner, Colgate wrote a letter that Raupp read. In the letter, Colgate commended Darling for her “hours of tireless work and her wonderful rapport with children.”

Hyatt was selected for the scholarship based on four years of band, cheer (captain this year) and honor roll; two years in the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) careers in education class; top 15 percent of her class; active in her church youth group and in New Life; 2004 Homecoming Queen; dance instructor; and she was instrumental in the Every 15 Minutes program which was her senior project.

Hyatt plans to become an elementary school teacher.

Yosemite Joint Union High School District News