2024-2025
We’re getting ready to hit the road to surprise this year’s National Life Group LifeChanger of the Year winners at their schools! Out of 762 nominations nationwide, 17 K-12 teachers and school employees have been chosen by our selection committee to receive some well-deserved recognition and cash prizes to share with their school.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Arjelis Heredia
Middle School Teacher
Children’s Community School
Waterbury, CT
As a teacher, Ms. Heredia has had great success in educating and inspiring at-risk and economically disadvantaged students to achieve greatness in school and at life. Most of her students come from single-parent households that represent a cross-section of Waterbury’s racial and ethnic diversity.
As a single mom herself, Ms. Heredia has earned the admiration and respect of students, parents, and teachers for her loving, no-nonsense, almost motherly approach to teaching.
As an educator, Ms. Heredia uses a unique and engaging curriculum. For example, her students have put on fashion shows conducted entirely in Spanish as a language class. In her social studies lessons, her students learn experientially through debate, bank account openings, and community service. She has a 100% graduation rate from her class, with many students being accepted to private schools and elite early college programs.
We and National Life Group are proud to have Ms. Heredia as this year's Grand Prize winner and are giving her $10,000 to share with her school, plus a trip to the Bahamas in May.
SPOTLIGHT AWARD
To Be Announced
-
$5,000 to be split between a $2,500 individual cash award and a $2,500 donation to the winner’s school/district
-
$3,000 to be split between a $1,500 individual cash award and a $1,500 donation to the winner’s school/district
-
Given to the LifeChanger whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination. To learn how you can rally behind your LifeChanger, visit our Support Your LifeChanger page.
$5,000 to be split between a $2,500 individual cash award and a $2,500 donation to the winner’s school/district
Cafeteria Specialist
Midway Park Elementary School
Euless, TX
The 2024-25 Spotlight Award was given to Martha Jimenez for going above and beyond as a school cafeteria worker. Martha received $5,000 to be shared between a $2,500 individual award and a $2,500 donation to her school.