The Unger/Stock Outstanding Teacher Award has been made possible by the generous donation of Colonel Guinn E. Unger. Through a charitable trust established by Col. Unger and the late Mrs. Phyllis E. Unger, the Upper Adams School District has been able to perpetuate the long-standing tradition of recognizing outstanding teachers. Col. Unger, a 1943 graduate of Biglerville High School, realizes the importance high-quality teachers played in his life and the lives of his children. In 1995, Colonel Unger encouraged the Upper Adams School District to institute the Guinn E. Unger Innovative Teaching Practices Award. This award, presented to one secondary and one elementary teacher each year, recognized the efforts to institute innovative teaching practices into the classroom.

Colonel Unger was a student of the late L.V. Stock, who was a teacher and administrator in the Upper Adams School District from 1923 through 1957. In 1985, the L. V. Stock Teacher of Excellence Award was formed through the generous contribution of Verna O. Stock, in honor of her late husband, Leslie V. Stock. After nearly twenty years of honoring distinction in teaching through the L.V. Stock Teacher of Excellence Award, the tradition came close to extinction due to dwindling funds. When faced with the possibility of losing the tie between the L.V. Stock name and teacher excellence, Colonel Unger agreed to support the initiation of a new award, combining the components of both the former L.V. Stock and Guinn E. Unger awards. Thus, in 2005, the Unger/Stock Outstanding Teacher Award was conceived.

The Unger/Stock Outstanding Teacher Award is made available to one secondary and one elementary teacher each school year at the Upper Adams School District. The recipients will be chosen from selected teacher candidates who are nominated by peers, parents, students, staff members and/or community members. This recognition award is intended to bring special attention to a teacher nominated by others for qualities exemplifying outstanding practice.

Parents, teachers, students, staff and community members are welcomed and encouraged to submit a nomination. A nomination form can be found at the school website at www.upperadams.org or you can pick up an application at any Upper Adams School Office or the District Administrative Office.