YAKIMA, Wash. -- How do you like them apples?

The winners of the 18th annual Golden Apple Awards, that is.

KCTS 9 recently announced seven educators and three programs that received the recognition for this year. The awards honor people and programs that are making a difference in kindergarten through 12th grade in Washington state.

Among them are two local programs: the Math Extensions Program, serving grades K-4, at John Campbell and Robert Lince elementary schools in the Selah School District; and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, Program, serving eighth- graders at Naches Valley Middle School.

Math Extensions started last fall in an effort to help students who failed to meet Washington State math standards. The goal: Have students and parents do math together for 10 minutes a night for 20 nights per month.

STEM, led by teacher Brian Johnson, is a requirement. Working with computers, robotics kits and other technology, students learn how to logically approach problems and apply math and science in a variety of ways to real life.

The statewide Golden Apple Awards program is sponsored by KCTS 9 and funded by PEMCO Insurance and the School Employees Credit Union of Washington. KCTS 9 established the awards in 1992.

This year, the station received more than 150 nominations, which were evaluated by representatives from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington Education Association, Washington State Parent Teacher Association and Association of Washington School Principals as well as past award winners and other educators.

Each winner will receive a “Golden Apple” statuette. And each winning program will receive $500. The winners will allso be featured in a prime-time broadcast on public television stations statewide in February 2010.

So stay tuned.

-- Adriana Janovich