Sue Mateka, CCIU Hall of Fame inductee, poses with her family.
On the evening of May 8, the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) transformed the Technical College High School (TCHS) Pickering campus into an awards celebration, held to recognize distinguished service among its employees.
The Awards & Recognition Celebration, now in its 42nd year, honors excellence across the 1,800-employee organization. Beginning in 1983 with a visionary idea from a CCIU Board member, this annual event is an opportunity to recognize the outstanding individuals who bring the mission of the CCIU to life each day.
CCIU Executive Director, Dr. George F. Fiore opened the event, calling the festivities, “a night dedicated to honoring those who make a lasting difference in the lives of students, families, and colleagues throughout our community.”
The first employees honored on Thursday were those celebrating their 25th, 30th, 35th, and 40th milestone years of service. Next up, 30 retirees were thanked and wished well as they embark on this next chapter of their lives.
As the evening progressed, Dr. Fiore introduced the Outstanding Service Award (OSA) winners by saying, “The OSA represents our commitment to recognizing those who go above and beyond in their service. This year, we awarded 12 OSAs, chosen through nominations from colleagues and careful review by our Board.”
This year’s OSA award recipients were: Richard Bollinger, Angela D’Amico Miller, Sue Kerr, Joseph Lubitsky, Jessica Pavolvic, Kelly Rebar, Brittany Saello, Susan Silverstein, Jeff Towles, Michelle Williams, Rachel Yevel, plus an award for the team of three employees (Matt Hills, Alicia Johnson, and Kelly Kinsley) working on grants for Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS).
Also presented was the prestigious Annie Sullivan award—named in honor of the educator who taught Hellen Keller how to read and write—given to a CCIU employee who offers exemplary advocacy and service to students with disabilities. This year’s recipient was Yaneth Garcia-Lopez for her work in the Migrant Education program.
The final honor of the night was the Hall of Fame induction. As Dr. Fiore explained, “Induction into the CCIU Hall of Fame is the highest honor we bestow on former staff members. It is reserved for those whose long-standing commitment and impact helped shape the CCIU and the communities we serve.”
This year’s honoree was Dr. Sue Mateka, long-time staff member and retired principal of the Child & Career Development Center (CCDC).
Throughout the evening, attendees were treated to musical performances by students from CCDC, and as guests arrived in the lobby, they were greeted by music from Isabella Florendo, a solo pianist from Conestoga High.
To learn more about the CCIU, visit www.cciu.org.
