LA PLATA — Four Charles County Public Schools middle school students were honored with Ruth Ann Hall Champion Scholar awards at the June 9 Board of Education meeting.
The awards, sponsored by the Education Association of Charles County, recognize middle school students for academics, classroom improvement and positive behavior. School administrators and teachers nominate students, and an EACC committee selects the winners.
The 2026 recipients are Emma Anderson, a sixth-grader at Milton M. Somers Middle School; Kenia Gutierrez Granados, also a sixth-grader at Somers; Sarah Ridley, a seventh-grader at Somers; and Phoenix-Cruz Zimmerman, an eighth-grader at Matthew Henson Middle School.
Each honoree receives a certificate and a gift card for use at a local bookstore.
The award was established as an annual memorial to Ruth Ann Hall, who had a 20-year career as a CCPS teacher. Hall served as EACC president and received the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher of the Year award from The Washington Post in 1986. She taught at Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School and Mattawoman Middle School. The award focuses on middle school students in recognition of Hall’s final teaching assignment at that level.
The recognition highlights the contributions of support staff and educators who identify students demonstrating consistent effort and positive influence among peers. It reflects broader efforts in Charles County to acknowledge student growth beyond test scores.
Charles County Public Schools serves students across a growing region with diverse communities. Programs like this award reinforce values of academic commitment and responsible behavior during the middle school years, a critical period for student development.
Local educators and association leaders view the recognition as a way to celebrate everyday achievements that contribute to a positive school environment. The gift card component provides a tangible reward that encourages continued reading and learning.
The June 9 presentation at the Board of Education meeting gave the honorees and their families an opportunity to be publicly acknowledged for their efforts. Such events strengthen connections between schools, families and the broader Charles County community.
