$100,000 in Teacher Awards Open for Nominations
Students, parents and colleagues in six southeastern Pennsylvania counties can nominate educators through January 15, 2027.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Citadel Credit Union has opened nominations for its 2026-27 Citadel Heart of Learning Awards, which will distribute $100,000 in personal awards and school grants to educators in southeastern Pennsylvania. Nominations are open through January 15, 2027, for teachers in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
Why it matters
For Pennsylvania families, the awards highlight a non-tuition channel that directly funds classrooms and recognizes teachers whose work goes beyond routine instruction. Since the program began in 2000, Citadel reports recognizing more than 465 educators and distributing more than $700,000 to teachers and schools.
The program will distribute $100,000 in personal awards and school grants to more than 35 educators across six southeastern Pennsylvania counties. Nominations close January 15, 2027, and any student, parent, educator, administrator or community member may submit a teacher online at CitadelBanking.com/Nominate.
The players
Citadel Credit Union
A credit union headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, that has run the teacher awards program since 2000 and sponsors the Heart of Learning Awards.
McCaskey High School
A public high school in the School District of Lancaster where 2025-26 award recipient Kimberly McFadden teaches science.
General George A. McCall School
A Philadelphia public school where 2025-26 award recipient Michael Andrews teaches first grade.
The details
Nominations are submitted online, and participating Citadel branches provide nomination stations while posters and QR codes are distributed at schools and branches to make submission easier. Nominators can be students, parents, fellow educators, school administrators or community members. Award recipients will be recognized during surprise celebrations in spring 2027.
Timeline
November 9, 2026: Citadel opened nominations for the 2026-27 awards.
January 15, 2027: Nomination deadline.
Spring 2027: Recipients recognized at surprise celebrations.
Education Landscape
The awards sit within a long-running, locally sponsored effort to support teachers and classrooms in southeastern Pennsylvania. Citadel's program has recognized more than 465 educators since 2000, and this cycle extends that record to the region's six counties.
If you know a teacher in one of the six eligible counties, the nomination deadline is January 15, 2027, and the form is available online at CitadelBanking.com/Nominate. Families who want to recognize an educator should submit before that date, and nominations can come from students, parents or colleagues.
The takeaway
The Heart of Learning Awards show how local recognition programs can put money directly into classrooms and teachers' hands. If you want to nominate an educator, the deadline is January 15, 2027, and questions about the program can be directed to Citadel Credit Union.
What happens next
Award recipients will be recognized during surprise celebrations in spring 2027.
Further reading
For more on the grants and scholarships that help fund education across the state, explore our Financial Aid coverage.
More information
Submit a teacher through the online teacher nomination submission form on the Citadel Credit Union website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MyChesCo.
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