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Earlier this month, two Utah County teachers won a free trip to Washington, D.C. It wasn't Disneyland, but Provo High School science teacher Ty Robinson didn't mind.
Robinson and American Fork Junior High math teacher Travis Lemon were two of 99 winners of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching that were announced last week in D.C. They were the only two recipients from Utah.
"It's an honor to be selected for the award, and it represents all of the teachers that work so hard every day," Lemon said.
The winners got a taste of the nation's capital with a tour of the White House. They took a picture with Vice President Dick Cheney and ate dinner in the State Department. Lemon said eating dinner was his favorite part.
"There were a lot of really neat artifacts there, and they had a speaker come and tell us about being an astronaut," Lemon said.
The award is given to teachers who demonstrate excellent teaching skills and comes with a $10,000 prize. Robinson plans to spend some of that money in his classroom and to take his family on a trip to Washington, D.C.
"They need to see where the capital of their nation is," Robinson said. "They need to see what goes on in Washington, D.C. I would like to live back there someday."
Lemon also plans to use the funds in his classroom. He also wants to do some projects around the house.
Provo High School principal Sam Ray said Robinson is a successful teacher because he is student-focused.
"Ty's focus is the students. He spends long hours, weekends, summers ... to give his students the best possible experience," Ray wrote in an e-mail message. "The secret to Ty's success is his student focus, he does it for the kids."
Theron Murphy, the principal of American Fork Junior High School, said it's Lemon's attitude that makes him a successful teacher.
"You know the thing about Mr. Lemon is his attitude. He's got at an attitude of continuous improvement," Murphy said.
He also said the students love Mr. Lemon because he has a passion for them as individuals and can help them succeed.
To receive the award, winners must be nominated, submit a nearly 30-page application and send in a video-taped lesson. Both Robinson and Lemon had been nominated before but had not made it to the national level.
"It's an extremely prestigious award. I mean I've been nominated two other times and I never even made it to the national level," Robinson said.
• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at
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