"It did cost them the award they had hoped for and probably would have received," wrote parent Vicki J. Ashton in her award nomination letter. "But a great lesson was learned by all that honesty and integrity is truly the greater prize."

Mary Louise Bean, English teacher, Viewmont High, Davis District

English teacher Mary Louise "Lou" Bean shapes students into readers, writers and creators.

Bean once encouraged a student who loved sketching cars to write Ford Motor Co. about becoming a designer. That student since had his $550,000 concept motorcycle appear in the Nieman-Marcus Christmas book, Viewmont High colleague Debbie Jones wrote in a nomination letter.

Bean, who regularly attends writing workshops, has writing circles in class to help students discover their talents. One student even won a national PTA Reflection contest for her essay about her deceased father.

Bean picks out novels for individual students, hooking struggling readers on books. One now reads 700-page books for pleasure; another went on to become a physician.

"The sparkling enthusiasm of Lou Bean boosted the self-esteem of my children," wrote parent Debra E. Randall. "She let them know she believed in them and that they could succeed."

Diane Fullerton, volunteer, Lincoln Elementary, Salt Lake District

Diane Fullerton's child attends school in her Holladay neighborhood.

But Fullerton volunteers at a low-income school in inner-city Salt Lake City, where she didn't know anybody before she called two years ago and asked how she could help a school in need.

Fullerton focused her energy on the school's student motivation program, "Lincoln Loot," where students can "buy" rewards — often, toiletries and other necessities — with good behavior. When she arrived, the loot store was in disarray. Today, it is neat, brightly decorated and packed with treats, books, toys and school and other supplies donated by church groups, businesses and anonymous strangers.

Leaders say she has deeply affected the school community, which rallied around her when she was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. She still comes to school and has become a mentor for a woman who volunteered there as part of a drug treatment program.

"Working with Diane at the store has given me a great foundation in my sober support system," McKinsey Mackin wrote. "It has helped my self-esteem to know that I have something to offer others and can help."

Connie Stratton, volunteer, Three Falls Elementary School, Washington School District

Teachers at Three Falls Elementary put in long days.