The Renton Chamber of Commerce recognized four Renton School District teachers and an instructor at Renton Technical College at their 2014 Ahead of the Class Excellence in Education Awards, early this month.

Natalie Kolczynski of Renton High School; Kinsey Mannon of Kennydale Elementary School; Melinda Oosterhof of Dimmitt Middle School; Jessica Powell of Cascade Elementary School and Gary West of Renton Technical College were celebrated by friends, family and members of the Renton business community at the Virginia Mason Activity Center, the Seattle Seahawks headquarters.

The educators were nominated, along with more than 145 other teachers, by their peers, students and parents. Two separate committees, consisting of community and business leaders, reviewed applications and conducted personal interviews with the teachers to select this year’s winners. The selection criteria for the awards is based on national standards for teaching, a district press release stated.

This year’s winners and finalists were noted for demonstrating high standards of professionalism in education. The winners each received a $500 cash award and special honors at the ceremony, which was sponsored by the Seattle Seahawks, First Savings Bank Northwest, Marcie Maxwell and Lisa Lam Windermere Real Estate, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Wizards of the Coast.

The 2014 additional finalists were Joanne Angell of Campbell Hill Elementary School; Stephen Clark, Michelle Opiniano, Rachel Peach, and Aaron Richards of Dimmitt Middle School and John Fisher of Renton Technical College.