Fayette Presents 2025 Golden Apple Awards

FCPS Salutes High-Performing Community Partners

Six organizations and one individual have received 2025 Golden Apple Awards for their willingness to give extra time, energy, and expertise to promote student success in Fayette County Public Schools. Presenting the honors during the annual State of Schools Leadership Breakfast were Superintendent Demetrus Liggins, school board Vice Chair Amy Green, and Annissa Franklin, vice president of the Urban League of Lexington/Fayette County.

This year’s award sponsors were Delta Dental, Fifth Third Bank, Kentucky Association of Chinese Language Teachers, New Vista of the Bluegrass, Savvas, Valvoline Global, and WesBanco. 

Category Winner: Individual -- Dawn Webb

Dawn Webb has partnered with FCPS and Millcreek Elementary for several years. She has volunteered at Millcreek for eight years, including seven years on their advisory council.  She has also assisted with REAL Read, holiday donations, Tuesday Talks, and Community pop-ups, for which she worked to secure grants. She also helps with Back to School rallies, providing crafts and making positive connections with students. Webb has sponsored an Easter egg hunt, helped the local community center organize a safe “spooky night” on Halloween, and furnished a large portion of the center’s Thanksgiving meal. Webb’s efforts are felt by schools and families throughout the Tates Creek corridor, and she has made a lasting impact on her community.

School-Based Partner -- Legacy Equine Academy

The Legacy Equine Academy has partnered with Bryan Station High School to introduce students to career possibilities in the equine industry, facilitating attendance at events like Keeneland Race Day and the September yearling sales and guest speakers such as veterinarians, trainers, and race coordinators. In addition, the Amplify Horse Racing Equine Orientation and the University of Kentucky’s Ag for All Conference exposed students to career pathways in agriculture and equine management. Legacy Equine Academy bridges opportunity gaps, empowers students, and creates pathways to success!

Postsecondary Partner -- UK's Department of Ophthalmology

The University of Kentucky’s Department of Ophthalmology has provided a mobile eye clinic for students at James Lane Allen Elementary. This brings vision screenings and free glasses right to the school, which removes barriers for families like transportation and scheduling. The clinic also provides an opportunity for professionals to address children’s vision issues. Once students who need glasses receive them, teachers report improvements in classroom focus and overall participation. The UK program has expanded to other schools in the district and has boosted students’ confidence and sense of belonging.

Faith-Based Group -- CenterPointe Christian Church

CenterPointe Christian Church has been a tremendous resource for families at Sandersville Elementary. They not only are a community partner in the school’s backpack food program, but also stepped up to co-sponsor an event that produced 30,000 food boxes to share throughout the district. The church has also provided items such as headphones and warm clothing for  students, and has offered their facility for meeting space. Additionally, church members volunteer in the REAL Read literacy program at Sandersville, contributing to student success.

Business/Industry -- KC7 Foundation

The KC7 Foundation has created engaging and accessible learning experiences in the fields of  data analysis and cybersecurity.  They have “gamified” education to keep students motivated and to make complex subjects more accessible. In addition, KC7 has offered comprehensive training guides and support materials to help our teachers integrate cybersecurity education into their classrooms and core content more effectively. The KC7 Foundation’s efforts have left an indelible mark, inspiring a new generation of leaders and fostering a culture of learning and innovation.

Community/Nonprofits -- Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass (JA) promotes college and career readiness by fostering real-world learning opportunities and community engagement. JA has been an instrumental partner in their support of signature events for sixth and ninth graders across the district, introducing students to a range of professions and the skills needed to succeed in those fields. JA played a large role in inviting business leaders, college representatives, and professionals to participate in these events and was vital to the logistical preparations as well.  The vast network of connections provided by JA is key to the success of our students and staff.

Community/Nonprofit -- Seedleaf

Seedleaf, a woman- and minority-run community gardening nonprofit, has partnered with FCPS for most of its 16-year existence. Seedleaf provides services like outdoor classroom maintenance, food literacy instruction, and culturally affirming harvest preparation lessons to thousands of FCPS students. The nonprofit has also built garden beds for several elementary schools and high schools across the district. Seedleaf's extraordinary impact can be witnessed directly through their work with students and teachers and indirectly through the stories shared by the educators they support.

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About the Golden Apple Awards

The annual Golden Apple Awards go to high-performance community partners who provide an exceptional commitment to individual schools or our district as a whole through mentorships and varied programs and initiatives. Through this recognition, the Fayette Education Foundation spotlights the commitment of our community and FCPS to provide a world-class education for all students.

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