![Yolanda Porter accepts a $5,000 check from Dr. Paul Hsu. Porter, who teaches digital design at Crestview High School, shared top recognition in the Paul Hsu Foundation Teaching Excellence Awards in Math and Science. [MARK JUDSON | News Bulletin]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-49877b25-36d4-75ed-e053-0100007f30e0-9953bf5d.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW — Dr. Paul Hsu built his life and career around technology, starting several electronics companies rooted in defense or research, and he believes the key to his field starts in the classroom.
That’s why, in 2014, he established the Paul Hsu Foundation Teaching Excellence Awards in Math and Science. The awards recognize north Okaloosa County educators in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
A local committee chooses the winners and finalists, basing their decision on the teachers’ contributions to the field and their students.
Yolanda Porter and Greg Baker, winners of the 2017 award, were selected from a group of eight finalists. Each received a $5,000 check.
Porter teaches digital design at Crestview High School, working with ninth- through 12th-graders. She was nearly brought to tears as she accepted the award from Hsu.
“This is all about my students,” Porter said. “Their hard work and engagement are the reasons that I won this award. This is all for them.”
“I don’t know honestly,” Porter said when asked how she planned to use the award. “I’m still in shock that I won.”
Baker, a technology instructor at Baker School, couldn’t attend the ceremony. Mike Martello, the school’s principal, accepted the award on his behalf.
Finalists taking home $500 checks included Cindy Anzalone, a math teacher at Baker School; Darron Dubose, a science teacher at CHS; Greg Elrite, an engineering educator at CHS; Linda Parker, a math instructor at CHS; Shanna Suggs, a web design educator at CHS; and Debra Adams, a math teacher at Laurel Hill School.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: STEM teachers bring home awards