NW Valley Times

The Glendale Union High School District (GUHSD) Governing Board recently recognized four individuals and one student group with the Achievement Above All award. This honor highlights their dedication, leadership, and significant contributions to both their school and community.

Megan O'Donnell, a Physical Education instructor specializing in Adaptive PE at Greenway High School, was acknowledged as the Teacher Recipient. Megan's journey began in Illinois, where she graduated from Eastern Illinois University. Her commitment to education is evident through her efforts to ensure every student feels valued. She also has 15 years of coaching experience across multiple sports and currently coaches the Unified Sports program and Varsity Cheer. Her colleague noted that "Megan’s dedication is truly remarkable. She spends countless hours at GHS."

Evelyn Guzman received recognition as the Student Recipient for maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout high school while passing all Advanced Placement courses offered at GHS. Evelyn ranks in the top 1% of her class academically and has been awarded a QuestBridge scholarship to attend Stanford on a full-ride scholarship. Her involvement extends beyond academics; she serves as Treasurer in the Student Council, where her advisor praised her by saying, "Evelyn is a dedicated and hardworking leader in Student Council."

The FCCLA and Culinary team were honored as the Student Group Recipient for their hard work, dedication, and service to the community. Each member contributes at least 15 hours of community service off-campus, volunteering at various organizations including Homes for Humanity and food banks. The group has achieved notable success in competitions with several students earning top positions nationally.

Ray Barrera was named Support Staff Recipient for his 12 years of service at Glendale High School as Assistant Foreman. His colleagues commend his professionalism and commitment to serving the school community. James Worthington stated that "Ray is the man behind the scenes," acknowledging his growth into an outstanding assistant foreman.

Denice Gibson was recognized as Volunteer Recipient for her extensive volunteer work in healthcare education as part of HOSA and CTE Advisory Boards. Jennifer Upsher expressed appreciation for Denice's impact: “Your dedication to excellence transforms lives every day.”

These honorees embody the spirit of Achievement Above All through their contributions to Greenway High School.