Oak Manor Sixth Grade Center’s Melissa Prestine is one of 30 teachers to receive this year’s Honor Credit Union awards.

In addition to some well-deserved recognition, the math and science teacher won $100 that will be used in the classroom.

“I was ecstatic,” said Prestine, who has been teaching for 10 years. “Just having this extra $100 will go a long way to help these kids prepare for the future and possible future careers in science.”

Entrants submitted a short description of what they would use the $100 for, and 30 winners were selected by a panel of Honor Credit Union team members. More than 380 submissions were received from over 300 schools throughout Honor’s branch areas.

Prestine said she submitted the entry on behalf of Oak Manor’s science department.

The department will use the money, she said, to purchase items for STEM related activities and experiments for the entire school.

“The scientific method and experiments are such a big part of our curriculum and are important for getting kids ready for jobs and the future,” she said.

This is Prestine’s third year teaching at Oak Manor. She previously worked in the Brandywine Community Schools district.

Below is a list of other winning teachers:

• Becky Calvert (Allegan Public Schools)

• Andrea Confer (Benton Harbor Area Schools)

• Jeanna Younger (Berrien Springs Public Schools)

• Tyler Cook (River School- Sodus Township #5)

• Tara Maurer (Quincy Community Schools)

• Shanda Drumm (Quincy Community Schools)

• Lawrence Bruce (Quincy Community Schools)

• Emily Ludwick (Bronson Community Schools)

• Rachel Schultz (Watervilet Public Schools)

• Joan Brewer (Telamon-Decatur)

• Andy Kruger (Dowagiac Union Schools)

• Keith Klann (Dowagiac Union Schools)

• Patricia Miilu (Gwinn Area Community Schools)

• Christine Boyle (Gwinn Area Community Schools)

• Nicole Sheltrow (Gwinn Area Community Schools)

• Suezann Bennett-Sheldon(Kalamazoo Public Schools)

• John King (Marquette Area Public Schools)

• Wendy Hill-Manson (Marquette Area Public Schools)

• Katie Trudgeon (Negaunee Public Schools)

• Tracy Spaulding (Negaunee Public Schools)

• Heather Turner (Negaunee Public Schools)

• Amy Hovis (Negaunee Public Schools)

• Melissa Prestine (Niles Community Schools)

• Patricia Mayne (Paw Paw Public Schools)

• Terry Webber (Otsego Public Schools)

• Kim Goodrich (Bangor Public Schools)

• Michelle Vukorpa (St. Joseph Public Schools)

• Laura Jasper-Stump (Lake MI Catholic High School)

• Pam McLean (Lakeshore Public Schools)

• Perry Heppler (Lakeshore Public Schools)