Crystal Apple Award finalists announced

Six Finney County teachers have been named finalists for this year’s Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce Crystal Apple Teacher Recognition Awards.

The 2026 finalists include:

• Alayna Addison, Wiley Elementary School in Holcomb;
• Jose Alfredo Anaya-Alarcon, Garden City High School;
• Tyrone Gil, Jr., Florence Wilson Elementary School;
• Carrie Moser, Jennie Barker Elementary School;
• Kelly Myatt, Garden City Achieve;
• Tregg Rodriguez, Holcomb Elementary and Wiley Elementary Schools. 

This program is made up of representatives from the business community in Finney County. The Crystal Apple program strives to honor outstanding teachers in Finney County for their exceptional efforts in education.

Twelve teachers were named semi-finalists for the award. The six non-finalists included Emily Arellano, Abe Hubert Elementary School; Brianna Boller, Holcomb High School; Buffi Brimm, Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center; Ericka Hoff, Kenneth Henderson Middle School; Gene Juno, Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center; and Roman Malitan, Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center;

The top three of the six finalists will be named as the 2026 Crystal Apple Teachers of Finney County at a banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m. on November 19 at The Refinery, 3122 Cecil Dr., and will receive an engraved crystal apple, a $1,000 cash award, and an iPad. The three finalists will be presented with a cash award of $250. 

Tickets for the banquet are on sale at the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce, 1509 E. Fulton Terrace.