Hamilton County
Education Foundation
Celebrate Excellence is a fundraising event an opportunity to honor educators in Hamilton County and Mason school districts.
The HCEF Scholarship program is designed to assist educators and related service personnel in advancing their career in Special Education.
You can support the Hamilton County Education Foundation in a number of ways — from attending the Celebrate Excellence event to making a contribution.
About Us
The Hamilton County Education Foundation supports and enhances the lives of educators through the provision of scholarships and recognition of their service to the students in our community.
In 2006, the Hamilton County Education Foundation (HCEF) was established by the governing board of the Hamilton County Educational Service Center (HCESC) as a separate, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Our Vision
Each year, the HCEF honors the Educators of the Year from the public school districts throughout the county at its annual Celebrate Excellence event. The event honors these educators for their accomplishments and raises funds through sponsorship, individual donations, and grants. The proceeds, in turn, provide scholarships to teachers already working in a Hamilton County public school who are pursuing their Master’s Degree in Special Education.
Providing these scholarships helps to address the local and growing national shortage of Special Education teachers and related service personnel. The shortage issue, as well as the fact that HCESC is one of the largest employers of Special Education personnel in Southwest Ohio, serves as a key driver behind the establishment of these scholarships.
Celebrate Excellence, held on a Friday morning in May, brings together education, business, and civic leaders to pay tribute to the outstanding educators from across the county who have been selected by their school districts.
Our Mission
- Provide college scholarships to administrators/teachers majoring in Special Education and other related fields of study on an annual basis.
- Recognize, honor, and learn from educators who exemplify the best in their profession.
- Make financial resources available to individuals or public education organizations for the purpose of professional development.
- Make financial resources available to individuals or public education organizations for the use of creative best practices.
What is Celebrate Excellence?
Hamilton County Education Foundation’s goal for Celebrate Excellence transcends its purpose as the main fundraising event for the scholarship fund. It is an opportunity to publicly honor the dedicated individuals who serve children in Hamilton County’s public schools on a daily basis. Each district in the county is invited to submit their own top educator, which includes not only classroom teachers, but all certified personnel.
Past honorees have included special education teachers, music directors, principals, intervention specialists, guidance counselors, and classroom teachers.
The event is unique in that it brings K-12 education, university, business, and civic leaders together to pay tribute to this impressive group. Since the inaugural event in 2007, former Cincinnati Bengal and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Anthony Munoz has served as Master of Ceremonies, except in 2016, when award-winning news anchor, Clyde Gray filled in for him.
Keynote Speakers:
2023 – Dr. Ande Durojaiye, Regional Dean and Vice President – Miami University
2020-2022 – Event not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 – Tanya O’Rourke, News Anchor, WCPO_TV
2018 – Jim Mahoney, Ph.D., Executive Director Emeritus, Batelle for Kids, Executive in Residence, Ohio University
2017 – Dr. Thomas Tucker, Superintendent, Princeton City Schools, AASA 2016 National Superintendent of the Year
2016 – Kathy Nimmer, Indiana Teacher of the Year 2016
2015 – O’dell Owens, President, Cincinnati State
2014 – Clyde Gray, WCPO’s “9 On Your Side” award-winning news anchor/reporter
2013 – Dr. Mark Meyers, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Social Sciences, Health & Education, Xavier University
2012 – Krista Ramsey, Columnist & Editorial Board, Cincinnati Enquirer
2011 – Anthony Munoz, President, The Anthony Munoz Foundation
2010 – Jim Mahoney, Executive Director, Battelle for Kids
2009 – Marilyn Troyer, Senior Associate Superintendent for Educational Programs, Ohio Department of Education
2008 – Nancy Zimpher, President, University of Cincinnati
2007 – Sharon Draper, Award-winning author and 1997 National Teacher of the Year
Celebrate Excellence is an event held at the Sharonville Convention Center in May. Each educator is accompanied by their superintendent and a guest. Many are also joined by members of their board, fellow colleagues, and students. They are individually introduced to the audience and presented with a plaque by the emcee.
The leadership of the HCEF believes that through the provision of more scholarships to K – 12 educators to complete their Master’s, as well as recognizing the achievements of local educators through Celebrate Excellence, more outstanding educators will choose to serve the children and communities of Southwest Ohio.
HCEF Scholarship Program
Across the nation, a shortage of Special Education teachers and related service personnel continues to grow. The Hamilton County Educational Service Center is one of the largest employers of Special Education personnel in Southwest Ohio. These two factors serve as key drivers behind the Hamilton County Education Foundation scholarship award.
The HCEF Scholarship Program is designed to provide an incentive to pursue an advanced career path in Special Education. While the problem is national, HCEF hopes to make a difference at our local level by providing financial support to a local teacher who, in turn, will support our students’ Special Education needs.
HCEF presented its inaugural scholarship in 2008 – one year after the first Celebrate Excellence educator recognition breakfast. This first scholarship was established in partnership with the University of Cincinnati College of Education, Criminal Justice and Health Services. The University of Cincinnati (UC) has since awarded six scholarships to current K-12 educators employed by a public school district in Hamilton County who are pursuing a Master’s Degree in Special Education or other related fields.
In 2009, the Xavier University College of Social Sciences, Health, and Education became the second partner, and has since awarded four scholarships to their graduate program.
Each scholarship award is equal to one semester of tuition. The ideal candidate is committed to working public education and will pursue their Master’s Degree in a Special Education or other related field.
HCEF, in partnership with Xavier University, awarded a scholarship to Tiera Anderson, a math teacher from Purcell Marion High School, at the 2016 Celebrate Excellence event.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a scholarship, applicants must:
- Be currently employed as a full-time teacher in a public school district in Hamilton County.
- Demonstrate commitment to education in public schools.
- Be currently enrolled in the Master’s Degree Program in Special Education or related field at the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, or intend to enroll in one of these programs for the summer or fall quarters.
If the nominee for the scholarship is not currently enrolled in a Special Education Program at the University of Cincinnati or Xavier University, the nominee must meet the criteria and be accepted during the academic year following the award.
The scholarship recipients will be notified by May 1st and must attend the Celebrate Excellence breakfast at the Sharonville Convention Center on the day of the event.
Application
Applications for this year are currently closed.
Get Involved
You can support the Hamilton County Education Foundation in a number of ways – from attending the Celebrate Excellence annual recognition breakfast to making a contribution. Financial gifts received are designated for unrestricted use unless otherwise noted by the donor.
The HCEF is a 501(c)(3) organization and can accept gifts, such as:
Making a Donation
Sponsorship and Corporate Giving
The Foundation welcomes corporate participation through annual financial support, in-kind giving, and sponsorship of the Celebrate Excellence event.
Honorary and Memorial Gifts
Honor a birthday, anniversary, or graduation with a contribution to the Foundation. Funds established honor living or deceased family members, friends, and Hamilton County ESC employees.
Casual Fridays
We encourage you as a friend of HCEF to make a personal contribution. Donations meeting applicable provisions are tax deductible.
- Please make all checks payable to the Hamilton County Education Foundation at:
Thank You!
Board of Directors
Dr. Adrienne C. James, President/CEO
Chad Hilliker, Chairman
Dave Distel
Mat Dutkiewicz
Dave Horine
Larry Johnson
Leslie Kreines
Donna Lauver
Dan Mazza
Bronston McCord
Karen Muse
Rick Theders
Contact us
The Hamilton County Education Foundation office is located at the Hamilton County Educational Service Center:
Tracy Mielke
Administrator
513.674.4251
tracy.mielke@hcesc.org