**Mrs. Duggan & Miss Koch Honored with State Educator Award**
*McCook, NE - Friday, October 6, 2023* - On Friday, October 6, 2023, in McCook, Nebraska, there was a special celebration to recognize two outstanding teachers from Hershey Public Schools. Mrs. Duggan and Miss Koch received the State Educator Award for their exceptional work in teaching young people about trees and Arbor Day in Nebraska.
This award ceremony was a day of inspiration and appreciation for their hard work. It brought together teachers from across the region to celebrate how these educators have taught kids the importance of trees and the Arbor Day tradition.
Here's what happened at the event:
**Welcome Address:** The day began with a warm welcome to all the teachers and tree enthusiasts who came to the event.
**Keynote Speaker:** Justin Evertson & Tim Buchanan, two special speakers, talked about why it's important to teach kids about trees and how it helps Nebraska's environment.
**Award Ceremony:** The most exciting part of the day was when Lyle Minshull gave Mrs. Duggan and Miss Koch the State Educator Award. This award is for teachers and schools that do more than just regular teaching. It's for those who organize extra activities and special events to teach kids about trees.
**Break-Out Sessions:** People at the event got to join different discussions. They talked about things like how to take care of trees, challenges that trees face in the forest, and how to get more people involved in tree education.
Mr. Mike Epping, who leads the Hershey Tree Board, praised Mrs. Duggan and Miss Koch for their hard work. He said they've done an amazing job teaching young people in Nebraska about trees and Arbor Day. He also mentioned that they've worked really hard to make students care about nature and protecting it.
The Nebraska Forest Service, which is a group that takes care of the forests and teaches people about them, helped organize the event. You can learn more about what they do at [www.nfs.unl.edu](http://www.nfs.unl.edu).
Mrs. Duggan and Miss Koch have done an incredible job teaching kids about trees, and their efforts have made a big impact on the community. They are inspiring the next generation to take care of the environment and make Nebraska a greener place for everyone.
