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WNDU Channel 16 anchor Tricia Sloma presented Lincoln Elementary second-grade teacher Rita Golding with an "Excellence in Education" award Wednesday.
Golding was one of only three teachers, out of approximately 100 nominations, who received the award.
Nancy Amundgaard, Teacher's Credit Union Warsaw branch manager, presented Golding with a $300 check in connection with the award. Lincoln Elementary also received $300. TCU cosponsored the award.
Tammy Gonzalez nominated Golding. Her daughter, Star, now in the eighth grade, had Golding for a teacher in second grade. At a parent-teacher conference, when Gonzalez and Golding discussed Star's reading problem, Golding asked Gonzalez if either she or her husband had a reading problem too.
Gonzalez said she did.
Not only did Golding help Gonzalez learn to read, but she helped Gonzalez help Star learn to read, too.
"I was 33 years old before I read my first book from cover to cover," said Gonzalez. "(Golding's) had all five of my children, too."
Every year, Gonzalez said she tries to pay Golding back for what she did. She said, "It made a world of difference for me. ... I can never give her enough."
Gonzalez said Golding is a great lady, excellent teacher and helped to instill confidence in her.
During the award presentation, Gonzalez attempted to read her nomination letter, but began crying and had her son Andy read the letter.
The award was presented to Golding at Lincoln during her class so her students could be there. Also on hand to see her receive the award was her mother Rezelma Golding, several teachers and staff and Rich Bogucki, TCU director of marketing, South Bend.
The award was a "shock" to Golding, who did not know she was going to receive it. The segment will appear on Channel 16 later this month.
