Vickie Mike of the Horseheads Teachers Association is a high school Spanish teacher who uses hands-on learning and technology to engage her students.

In her union work, Shelvy Young-Abrams led campaigns to prevent injuries on the job for paraprofessionals; the result was the UFT Workers Compensation Project.

Those nominating Donlon for the award call her "an outstanding leader and her work, always, is for the benefit of others."

Thomas Matthews' service to higher education and unionism began in the 1970s and continues today.

Carol Herb of Monroe Woodbury Employees Association is a visionary leader who understands and epitomizes unionism in every sense of the word.

When she's not attending to the needs of her middle-level students, Miriam Lynn of Nyack Teachers Association is volunteering her services to sick children across the world.

Arlene Hanley of the Rochester Association of Paraprofessionals is a longtime SRP advocate who serves as a NYSUT state Employees' Retirement System consultant in the Rochester regional office.

Richard Miller distinguished himself as an activist, organizer and leader during the 1960 United Federation of Teachers strike and hasn't looked back.

Andrea Figueroa of Jamestown Teachers Association has been a vocal union activist almost since the beginning of her career.