Hundreds of supporters cheered and applauded as the UFT paid tribute to outstanding high school educators, union activists and school communities at the union’s second annual Academic High School Awards Recognition Ceremony on April 15.

“Our union is strong. It’s powerful because of you,” said Janella Hinds, the UFT vice president for academic high schools, in welcoming attendees to the celebration at union headquarters.

Vance Gillenwater, the chapter leader at the HS for Law Enforcement and Public Safety in Queens, said being recognized as a Dynamic Union Leader this year meant a lot to his entire chapter.

“We wanted our profile raised,” Gillenwater said. “We wanted to become a more active part of the UFT in words and in actions.” He said he had accomplished his goal as chapter leader of putting a “humanizing face” on the “entity called the UFT.”

Alexandra Shurp, one of the Excellence in Education award winners, said she was touched that most of her colleagues from the New Utrecht HS math department came to the ceremony.

She said teaching is much more than imparting content knowledge. “It’s about preparing my students to become life-long learners,” Shurp said. “For some of them, they don’t know the meaning of the words ‘work hard.’ But that is what life is — every day you have to learn something new. They have to know how to do it.”

Vered Raz, an art and design teacher at the School for International Studies in Brooklyn, received the Outstanding Activist Award for helping create a school Green Team and an annual Earth Fest and facilitating protest art projects. When her district representative told her she was being honored, Raz said she reacted with disbelief.

“I was humbled. It made me emotional,” she said. “I never did the things I did for any recognition. No one does. But it is beyond flattering to be recognized by my colleagues.”

Robert Roache, the chapter leader at the Bronx HS for the Visual Arts, said being nominated for the Dynamic Union Leader award was a “huge thank you” for what can sometimes be a thankless job.

Roache said he sees his work as chapter leader on behalf of teachers as part of his work on behalf of students. “My union work allows me to improve the educational experience of a larger number of students than I do as a classroom teacher,” he said.

Longtime union activist George Altomare, a founder of the UFT, received the Vanguard Award for the decades he has spent fighting for educators’ rights. “Keep fighting for the dignity and the rights,” he told the audience.

Altomare then brought out his guitar and led the crowd in a rousing chorus of “Solidarity Forever.”

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams was recognized as a Community Champion. Debra Poulos, the UFT Brooklyn borough representative, noted that through his office, Adams has provided high schools throughout the borough with millions of dollars that have paid for computers, athletic fields and technology, among other things.

Hinds acknowledged four former UFT high school vice presidents in the audience that afternoon: John Soldini, Frank Volpicella, Michael Shulman and Leo Casey, the winner of last year’s Vanguard Award.

The day began with music performed by students from Celia Cruz Bronx HS of Music, who are directed by teachers David West (who was unable to attend) and Penelope Smetters-Jacono.

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