The tradition of presenting teachers with apples dates all the way back to the American frontier and the one-room schoolhouse. According to Smithsonian Magazine, frontier families with school-aged children were often responsible for providing teachers with food and shelter.
Today, the gesture has taken on a more symbolic significance as the apple has become an expression of gratitude passed from student to teacher. In that spirit, the HVO Golden Apple was born. Ten years ago, as HVO’s 20th anniversary approached, the Board of Directors established the HVO Golden Apple Award to recognize and thank the many extraordinary individuals and health educators who make exceptional contributions to the organization and our mission to improve global health.
Each year, a handful of individuals receive the award in recognition of the substantial impact they have had as teachers, advisers, mentors and leaders. Past honorees have included volunteers who committed to repeated overseas assignments (as many as five or six in one year), or who spearheaded the development of a new curriculum or other innovative initiative. Local health care providers dedicated to furthering HVO’s reach and improving access to education and professional development for their colleagues have also received the award, as have HVO project directors and committee members who do a remarkable amount to further HVO’s mission from here in the US. Honorees have also been recognized for their contributions to HVO’s sustainability and effectiveness. 
Individuals are nominated by HVO members, volunteers or leadership, or by our overseas partners who have worked with the nominee.
“Nominations are a nice way to recognize people and say, ‘job well done’,” explains HVO Executive Director Nancy Kelly, who reviews nominations before sending them on to the HVO Board for ratification.
Though the geographical diversity of honorees prevents HVO from holding an annual Golden Apple Award ceremony, awards are sent to honorees at their homes or offices and press releases are issued to the HVO global health community as well as the local press of each honoree. In April 2012, HVO gave special recognition of all of our honorees with a ceremony during HVO’s 25th anniversary celebration.
Learn more about the Golden Apple Award and view past honorees. Know someone who has made a substantial contribution to the HVO mission? Submit your nominations for the 2016 Golden Apple Awards by Friday, February 26.