As area educators were returning to their classrooms in September, Community Bank was collecting nominations for its new Apple Appreciation Awards.

The bank congratulated teachers with the most nominations collected in the communities where it has branches. Meghan Dixon, a fourth grade teacher at Hermiston’s Desert View Elementary School, was among those recognized. Other teachers from Umatilla and Morrow counties who received the award included Sarah Matheny (Heppner), Makenna Ramos (Pendleton) and Jeff Bishop (Milton-Freewater).

In addition to honoring kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in local communities, the award also served to support school clubs. The winning teacher from each Community Bank location received an Apple Appreciation Award trophy and was asked to choose a club or student organization at their school to receive a $200 donation from the bank.

Dixon selected the school’s Robotics Club as the recipient. In nominations for the award, Dixon was noted for her hard work and going the extra step.

“She goes out of her way to not only teach her students but to build a community of caring students in her classroom,” the bank shared from a submission.

The bank anticipates continuing the Apple Appreciation Awards each fall with plans to expand the nomination radius to include all schools within the counties where Community Bank does business. The financial institution was founded in 1955 by a group of Joseph business leaders as the Bank of Wallowa County. For more information, contact Tom Moran, president and CEO, at 509-525-9860 or tmoran@communitybanknet.com.