Garden City Schools Athletic Director Nancy Kalafus, left, received an Unsung Hero award from SEPTA President Tina Halvatzis at the Board of Education meeting on June 16. Garden City SEPTA also present an Unsung Hero award to high school mathematics teacher Kathy Abrams, who organized a Connections dance luau.

The winners of the Nancy Maher Maxwell Award were announced by Tina Halvatzis, president of the Special Education Parent-Teacher Association (SEPTA), at the June 16th meeting of the Garden City Board of Education.

The award recognizes those "unsung heroes" who are not directly involved in special education but have made meaningful contributions to the special education population in Garden City schools.

This year SEPTA honored Nancy Kalafus, the district's director of physical education and athletics, and Kathy Abrams, a high school mathematics teacher and Student Council advisor.

Kalafus was instrumental in setting up the special needs Sports Connections inter-district basketball games this spring and donned the mascot costume to entertain spectators and participants.

"The students felt a sense of spirit, pride, and self-esteem they may never have felt before," explained Halvatzis. "Typically, they sit on the sidelines; now they were our stars."

Abrams organized the first annual Garden City Connections Dance and encouraged Student Council members to become involved. The Student Council donated the fee for a disc jockey.

"Ms. Abrams was instrumental in creating an atmosphere of friendship by involving the high school Student Council in the dance," Halvatzis said. "She went above and beyond for our students."