Four PNW Educators Have Mortgage or Rent Paid for One Year Through OnPoint’s Prize for Excellence in Education

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on May 27, 2026

OnPoint Community Credit Union has announced the four winners of the 2026 OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education Educator of the Year awards, who will each have their mortgage or rent paid for a year:

• K-5 Educator of the Year: Ashley Reich, 4th-grade teacher at Holt Elementary School in Eugene, Ore.
• 6-8 Educator of the Year: Mikael Benson, 6th-8th grade Math and Gardening teacher at Harrison Park Middle School in Portland, Ore.
• 9-12 Educator of the Year: Stephanie Fitzgerald, 9th-12th grade Mathematics, Leadership and Education 101 teacher at Colton High School in Colton, Ore.
• Gold Star Educator of the Year: Kali Dalton, Counselor at Coweeman Middle School in Kelso, Wash.

OnPoint will pay the mortgage or rent for a year for each of the four Educators of the Year. They will also each receive $2,500 for their schools. The four runners-up will receive $5,000 each and $1,500 for their schools.

“Great educators do much more than teach lessons. They encourage students to believe in themselves and create meaningful connections that last far beyond the classroom,” said Rob Stuart, President and CEO, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “This year’s honorees demonstrate extraordinary dedication, compassion and leadership, and we are proud to celebrate the lasting impact they have on their students, schools and communities.”

The OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education has awarded more than $1 million in prizes to more than 350 local educators and schools since 2010.

Learn more about each of the Educator of the Year winners here.

2026 Educator of the Year Runners-up

OnPoint will also award a $5,000 cash prize to each of the following 2026 runners-up and make a $1,500 donation to their schools for resources and supplies.

• K-5 Educator of the Year Runner-up: Sam Wishart, 1st Grade, City View Charter School, Hillsboro, Ore.
• 6-8 Educator of the Year Runner-up: Kristine Napper, 6-8th Grade Social Studies, Whitford Middle School, Beaverton, Ore.
• 9-12 Educator of the Year Runner-up: Heidi Friesen, 9-12th Grade Chemistry and Physics, Bend Senior High, Bend, Ore.
• Gold Star Educator of the Year Runner-up: Yaneira Romero, Social Worker, James John Elementary, Portland, Ore.

Honoring Founders’ Legacy of Excellence in Education

Founded by 16 schoolteachers in 1932, OnPoint continues to honor its legacy today by improving access to quality education for everyone. Click here to learn more.

Posted in Community Impact, Oregon, Regional Member News, Top Headlines, Washington.