2026 Golden Apple Don Zimmerman scholarship recipient named

Letters of recommendation praised how Abby differentiates instruction to meet learners’ needs in a welcoming and inclusive classroom. She prioritizes social emotional learning, which may mean relinquishing control of the day’s plan, researching disabilities or sharing coping strategies with parents. When her class was building stamina for reading, she held a Drop Everything and Read (“DEAR”) power hour. Students requested pajamas, stuffed animals and blankets in exchange for some intense reading and they got it. This is just one example of how she makes sure student voices are heard, valued and supported.

Abby will be pursuing a Master’s Degree in Special Education, as she has observed an increasing number of IEPs in her classroom and wants to delve more deeply into how she can best serve, support and challenge these students. She’s excited to return to Rockford University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree, to “expand her toolkit” and grow her capacity as a leader.

At the presentation June 30 at Rockford University, Abby shared with Golden Apple, R.U. and Zimmerman family members how meaningful this scholarship was to her and she posted this, “Simultaneously writing an obituary and scholarship essay truly pushed me farther than I ever imagined I was mentally capable. One of the last conversations I had with my dad was about going back for our master’s degrees at the same time, and I can’t help but feel his presence so strongly with receiving this award. I am incredibly honored to carry on the Don Zimmerman legacy and represent Golden Apple through this program.”