John J Ross Award
John J. Ross Memorial Award for Excellence in Law-Related Education
This award recognizes exceptional contributions of Arizona educators in furthering understanding of the role of the law in our democratic society.
Nominations are due March 1st and are to include:
Nominee's name;
Nominee's School;
Nominee's address & other contact information;
Award for which they are being nominated
Nominator's contact information;
Summary of their characteristics, experiences, and service that qualifies them for the award;
and support letters from others may be included.
2026 awardees
Fauna Bushong
Welton Elementary
Civics that Empowers All Students, Kids Voting Arizona, Project Citizen, Project Community, We the People
Yuma County
Rachel Charette
Starline Elementary
ICivics Arizona
Mohave County
Kim Rios
Paseo Pointe Dual Language Academy
ICivics Arizona, Kids Voting Arizona
Maricopa County
Jason Scherr
Vista Grande High School
James Madison Legacy Project, We the People
Pinal County
2025 awardees
George Colebrook
Peoria Flex Academy
James Madison Legacy Project Expansion, Kids Voting Arizona, We the People, Connecting with Classrooms, Project Citizen
Maricopa County
Vicki Johnson
Rainbow Valley Elementary
Kids Voting Arizona, We the People, Project Citizen
Maricopa County
Charles Thompson
Sanders Middle School
Apache County
Jeron Velasco
Dishchii'bikoh High School
Apache County
2024 awardees
Angelica Abbey
Frye Elementary
James Madison Legacy Project Expansion, Kids Voting Arizona, We the People
Maricopa County
Larry Lopes
Country Place Leadership Academy
Mock Trial, We the People, Teen Court
Maricopa County
Jennifer Marlow
University High School
Pima County
Andrew Mercer
Gila Ridge High School
Yuma County
2023 awardees
Gabriela Curiel
Desert View Middle School
Mock Trial, iCivics Arizona
Yuma County
Elayna Direnfeld
BASIS Oro Valley
Mock Trial, iCivics Arizona Pima County
Paul Hrovat
Desert Foothills Junior High School
Mock Trial, iCivics Arizona, Kids Voting Arizona, We the People
Maricopa County
Sheela Shukla
Percy L. Julian School
Maricopa County
Past Awardees
2022 awardees
Dave Beery - Mingus Union High School - Yavapai County
Erin Eisen - Verrado High School - Maricopa County
Janet Emond - Desert Mountain High School - Maricopa County
Cassandra Thomas - Desert Christian School - Pima County
2021 awardees
Bonnie Hickman - Patterson Elementary - Maricopa County
Jill Maner - Capps Middle School - Navajo County
Jennifer Roberts - Empire High School - Pima County
Shannon Sweat - Desert Edge High School - Maricopa County
2020 awardees
Eric Alvarez - Glenn L. Downs Elementary - Maricopa County
Joshua Guidote - Cibola High School - Yuma County
Roger Lyman - Carson Junior High - Maricopa County
Jeremy Samoy - Tanque Verde High School - Pima County
2019 awardees
Tara Bartlett - Carson Jr. High School - Maricopa County
Joshua Guidote - Cibola High School - Yuma County
Bill Stewart - Santa Maria Middle School - Maricopa County
Richard Zamorano - Sunnyside School District - Pima County
2018 awardees
Harrison Chislock - Prescott High School - Yavapai County
Jake Harvey - Hamilton High School - Maricopa County
Matthew Smith - South Mountain High School - Maricopa County
Daniel Young - The Gregory School - Pima County
2017 Awardees
Warren Burda - Sunnyside High School - Pima County
Dr. Mary Ellen Halvorson - Tri-City College Prep High School - Yavapai County
Melinda Newman - Pan-American Charter School - Maricopa County
Mandy Wright - Gilbert Classical Academy - Maricopa County
2016 Awardees
Officer Nathan Goetz - Santa Maria Middle School - Maricopa County
Janice Koenig - Dysart High School - Maricopa County
Brenda Lee - Prescott High School - Yavapai County
Erika Sparlin - Coronado K-8 School - Pima County
2015 Awardees
Shari Anton - Shadow Mountain High School - Maricopa County
Anna Van Zile - Payson High School - Yavapai County
Norma Jean M Higuera-Trask - Challenger Middle School - Maricopa County
Jennifer Meadows- Walker Butte K-8 School - PinalCounty
2014 Awardees
Becky Fitch Franklin Phonetic Primary School
Heather Matchett Lineweaver Elementary
Michael Dillon Metro Tech High School
Ofc. Matt Blech Bogle Junior High School
2013 Awardees
Ellyssa Eiring Copper Basin
Dawn Burstyn-Meyers Salt River Elementary
Wiley Popovich Smith Junior High
Justina Powell Thunderbolt Middle School
2012 Awardees
Bill Young - Mohave County Probation Department
Officer John Talley - Alhambra High School
Amy Price - Sonoran Heights Middle School
Terry Green - Blue Ridge High School
2011 Awardees<
Officer Shawn Benjamin - Canyon Del Oro High School
Jill Benza - Skyline High School
Jaime Festa-Daigle - Lake Havasu High School
Eric Miller - Joseph City Junior and Senior High School
2010 Awardees
Elaine Potes - Centennial Middle School - Yuma
Felipe Navarro - Somerton Middle School - Somerton
Natalio Sabal - Douglas High School - Douglas
David Nach - Mountain Pointe High School - Phoenix
2009 Awardees
Marc Crowley - Jess Schwartz College Prep - Phoenix
Mark Goligoski - Prescott High School - Prescott
Nona Hanson - Benson Middle School - Benson
Charlene Roll - South Mountain High School - Phoenix
2008 Awardees
George Colebrook - Landmark Middle School - Glendale
Lisa Flores - Cactus Middle School - Casa Grande
John Cosden - Xavier High School - Phoenix
Patrick McAndrew - University High School - Tucson
2007 Awardees
Jim Maner - Capps Middle School - Heber
Jim Norman - Hamilton High School - Chandler
2006 Awardees
John Nitka - Palo Verde Magnet High School - Tucson
Rich Curtin - Palo Verde Middle School - Phoenix
2005 Awardees
Cheri Bludau- Tucson Unified School District - Tucson
Duane Phifer - Desert Sands Middle School - Phoenix
John Halverson - Desert Sands Middle School - Phoenix
2004 Awardees
Charlene Roll - South Mountain High School - Phoenix
Lisa Adams - Corona del Sol High School - Tempe
Lori Rodriguez - East Globe School - Globe
Phyllis Wolfskill/Cindy Pickett - Sinagua High School - Flagstaff
2003 Awardees
Patricia Downing - Crane Middle School, Yuma
Abby Dupke - Dobson High School, Mesa
Dave Franquero - Globe High School, Globe
Tim Smith - Corona del Sol High School, Tempe
2002 Awardees
Cathy Currier - Sahuaro High School (Tucson)
Michael Spears - Hamilton High School (Chandler)
2001 Awardees
Darla Johnson - Bradshaw Mountain High School
Arlie Hunt Anderson - Junior High School, Chandler
Robin Andre, Shelly Baker and Georgia Davidson - Mile High Middle School, Yavapai County
2000 Awardees
Tammy Waller - Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale
1999 Awardees
Julie McCall - Madison #1 Middle School, Phoenix
Nancy Haas - ASU West, Phoenix
Kathy Williams - Dobson High School, Mesa
Sarah Cromer - South Beaver Elementary, Flagstaff
1998 Awardees
Jody Arnold - Liberty Elementary School, Buckeye
Judy Cox - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson
Marilyn Easton - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson
Elnora Johnson - Blue Ridge School District, Lakeside
Janet Thor - Centennial Middle School, Phoenix
1997 Awardees
Katheryn Hedges - Deer Valley High School, Phoenix
Betsyann Wilson - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson
1996 Awardees
Connie R. Boulton - Wilson Primary School, Phoenix
1995 Awardees
William Graham - Tempe High School, Tempe
W. Dorrean Walker - Prescott High School, Prescott
1994 Awardees
Mildred (dede) Havens - Buena High School, Sierra Vista
Mary Jo Hilpert - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Mary Platt - St John's High School, St. Johns
George Thomson - Nogales High School, Nogales
1993 Awardees
Norma Jean Coulter - Madison #1 School, Phoenix
Paula Olson - Esperanza School, Tucson
1992 Awardees
Darlene Speaker - Creighton Middle School, Phoenix
Lorene Ely - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Ron Trent - Amphitheater High School, Tucson
Elnora Johnson - Blue Ridge Junior High School, Lakeside
1991 Awardees
Tom Foster - Mountain View High School, Mesa
Kathy Hedges - Deer Valley High School, Phoenix
Winifred McAter - Flowing Wells High School, Tucson
George Thomson - Nogales High School, Nogales
1990 Awardees
Richard C. Brown - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Augie Zito - Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix
Towne Bishop - Rincon High School, Tucson
John Yanez - Miami High School, Miami
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