The passion of 15 Chester County teachers has brought them from a field of 2,700 nominees for this year’s best-of-the-best Citadel Heart of Learning Award to the head of the class.

Each finalist’s remarkable impact on students and the community was recently awarded $500 for classroom supplies by Citadel and the Chester County Intermediate Unit, and it put them in the running for one of three $1,500 grand prizes, according to a Philly.com report.

The annual tribute to educators will culminate in the crowning of one high school, middle school and elementary school Heart of Learning winner during the May 5 award ceremony and banquet.

High school finalists included Andria Johnson of Coatesville Area High School, Timothy Gallagher of Technical College High School-Brandywine, Brenda Gelinas of Downingtown East High School, Kyle Hess of Great Valley High School, Michael Kelly of Kennett High School and Alison Tell of Phoenixville Area High School.

Middle school finalists were Anthony DeFelice of Avon Grove Intermediate, Jennifer John of Octorara Area Junior High School, Brad Creswell of Owen J. Roberts Middle School, Julie Myers of Penn’s Grove Middle School and Vicki Turner of Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School.

Elementary school finalists included Jaime Burns of Twin Valley Elementary Center, Kelli Kahn of Pocopson Elementary School, Sally Bopp of Mary C. Howse Elementary School and Anne Marie Spencer of Avon Grove Nazarene Academy.

Read more details about the teaching honor and its selection of finalists on Philly.com here.