Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education winners

SALT LAKE CITY — Jon and Karen Huntsman have announced the 2011 recipients of the Huntsman Awards for Excellence in Education. The 10 teachers, administrators and volunteers will be recognized at a banquet Friday for their commitment to children of all ages in the state. The winners will each receive $10,000.

This marks the 19th year the Huntsmans have conducted the awards, which recognize remarkable administrators and teachers from all different subjects and grade levels. Nominations for the awards are made by students or fellow colleagues, then vetted by an awards committee that makes the final selections.

Burke Staheli

Principal

Washington Elementary School, Washington

Burke Staheli is famous for his goal-oriented challenges that motivate his students to read. The principal at Washington Elementary has spent one night sleeping on the roof of his school every year for six years thanks to his students fulfilling a challenge to read 1 million minutes each year. Staheli has also shaved his head and skydived onto the school's field in order to make good on his promises.

Motivating kids to go to college is one of his greatest pursuits, which is why he created a school pledge that includes the lines, "I will work hard and be nice," and "Be prepared to go to college — no excuses!" He started a yearly fund for two $500 college scholarships for Washington Elementary graduates.

Staheli instills the concept of giving back by engaging his students in community service by setting a good example. Staheli, his students and other marathon participants raised $18,000 to go toward purchasing a prosthetic limb for a child who had an amputation.

David Beck

Orchestra teacher

Pleasant Grove Junior High School and High School

David Beck has transformed the orchestra program during his 14 years as the orchestra teacher at Pleasant Grove. The first time the orchestra ever qualified for state competition was Beck's first year at the school. Since that first year in 1997, the school has consistently earned superior ratings in state competition and remains one of the top five junior high school orchestras in Utah.

The seventh-grade beginners class averaged fewer than 20 students prior to Beck's first year. Today, incoming class size ranges from 50 to 70.