How about them apples?

The gifting of an apple to a teacher is one ingrained into popular culture, a tradition carried from the Old World to the American Frontier with apples serving as a symbol of knowledge and wisdom.

While teachers may not receive apples from their students anymore, the Platte Valley Legacy Foundation hands out crystal apples each year. This year, they awarded two of them on November 21 at the Hotel Wolf in Saratoga.

“The Platte Legacy Committee (Foundation) has chosen teachers they felt gave above and beyond just their job,” said Cheryl Munroe, board member of the Platte Valley Legacy Foundation. “We know all the hard work you do and all the extra time you put in, so this is one way that our board can say thank you.”

The Foundation awarded one teacher each from Saratoga and Encampment, with one crystal apple presented to Saratoga Middle High School’s Rex Hohnholt and one to Encampment K-12 School’s Daniel Greenwood.

Rex Hohnholt

Hohnholt graduated from Guernsey-Sunrise High School in 1977 before attending Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Physical Education and Health, and Special Education. In 1985, he married Mary Alice Losensky and together they have three children: JoRae, Hayden and Shelby. Hohnholt also has six grandchildren: Clara, Carson, Eli, Evie, Hadley and Hayze.

Beginning in 1993, Hohnholt has spent his entire teaching career in Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2). He began in Medicine Bow teaching kindergarten through 12th grade for three years. In 1996, Hohnholt began teaching at Saratoga Middle School and, eventually, Saratoga Middle High School (SMHS).

In his more than three decades of teaching in CCSD2, Hohnholt has coached multiple teams and multiple sports. He coached girls varsity basketball in Medicine Bow from 1993 to 1996 while teaching. In Saratoga, he coached Saratoga Middle School girls basketball and volleyball for two years, Saratoga High School boys varsity basketball for 11 years and has coached middle school or high school track and field in CCCSD2 during his entire tenure in the school district.

“I love being outdoors and all it has to offer,” said Hohnholt. “I find my peace when I am in nature, whether I am fishing, hiking, hunting, camping or sightseeing. The time I spend with Mary, my children, grandchildren, friends and students helps me wake up each day with renewed vigor.”

Hohnholt said the student-athletes he has coached over the years have given him “many beautiful memories.” Those memories, said Hohnholt, have allowed him to enjoy coming to school each and every day of his teaching and coaching career.

Daniel Greenwood

An alumni of Encampment K-12 School, Greenwood has been teaching science for five years at his alma mater.

“Receiving this award in such a short time is a testament to the quality of educator Daniel is,” said Munroe. “He is a leader among the students and his peers. His membership in the guiding coalition, the shared leadership team, is paramount to the success of school wide initiatives and student achievement.”

When he’s not teaching, he’s announcing at sporting events and giving encouragement to students through school-wide music performances and coaching.

“He has chosen a phenomenon-based science program through research, meaning that students start with a simple question and use the scientific method to explain what is happening,” said Munroe. “This learning strategy makes the students of Encampment [K-12 School] scientists, helping them retain information.”

Hohnholt was joined by SMHS Principal J.D. Johnson while Greenwood was joined by Encampment K-12 Principal Jake Johnston. Other members of the Platte Valley Legacy include Chairman Joe Parrie, Treasurer Amanda Shahadey, Secretary Joe Elder, Chuck Box and Brent Snelson.