Christina Crask, a graduate of Triton High School, Bourbon, received the Golden Apple Award.
The Golden Apple Awards program honors outstanding central Indiana and Pike County educators who creatively use math, science or technology in the classroom to inspire and motivate improved student achievement.
Crask is a third-grade teacher in the Monon Trail Elementary School in Westfield. She also is a Ball State University graduate.
The daughter of Jim and Kim Wanemacher, Warsaw, she is the mother of two children.
Her inventor project allowed third-grade students to become a real inventor for a day. Students were introduced to inventing by watching clips from the "American Inventor" television show. The students then, through research, created their invention and presented it to their peers, parents, teachers and a panel of judges.
One of Crask's colleagues wrote, "Most of Christina's students never thought of school beyond the school day. Now she regularly has students eager to continue learning after school hours."
Crask was awarded a trophy and $2,000 during an award ceremony at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. Her school also received $1,000.
