Norwegian Cruise Line Giving Joy To 100 School Teachers
During the beginning of this school year Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) awarded 100 deserving school teachers and significant other a free cruise. On October 27, 2022, the invited teachers and their guest attended an inaugural 5-day cruise onboard the Norwegian Prima making NCL history. Sailing from Galveston, Texas to Progreso, Mexico, it’s the first time the cruise line visited both ports.
Kelly Clarkson performs on the Norwegian Prima inaugural cruise from her home state Texas
The afternoon activities included a live concert in the Norwegian Prima Theater by GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter and television personality Kelly Clarkson. She is the Godmother of the Norwegian Encore and advocates for educators, as her mother is also a teacher.
Standing onstage in the theatre Harry Sommer, President and CEO of NCL welcomed the teachers and invited guests to enjoy NCL’s newest class of ships, Norwegian Prima. In July 2022, NCL took delivery of Norwegian Prima, its first of five Prima Class ship that will continue to debut through 2027. The Prima Class builds upon the brand’s legacy of freedom and flexibility found across its fleet featuring a host of cutting-edge designs that will further elevate its already award-winning guest experience. Built to comfortably sail with 3,100 guests in double occupancy staterooms, this sailing had only 2,300 invited guests.
President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Harry Sommer with 100 award winning teachers
“We’re so proud to celebrate educators, the unsung heroes of our communities, with our Norwegian’s Giving Joy program,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “After receiving more than 50,000 nominations and over one million votes, we believe this worthy cause is near and dear to people’s hearts. Teachers are tenacious, they are inspiring, and more than anything, they are dream makers.”
NCL encouraged the public and students to nominate certified or accredited teachers in the U.S. and Canada during the month-long campaign, that ran from May 2 through June 3, 2022. The complimentary cruises were awarded to the top 100 educators with the most votes. In addition, the top three grand prize winners receive an additional seven-day voyage for two from the U.S. or Canada, as well as a $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 donation respectively for their school.
Kelly Clarkson with Top Three Grand Prize Norwegian’s Giving Joy winners and Christine Da Silva
The annual Norwegian’s Giving Joy® program is designed to highlight the connection between travel and education. Giving teachers a much deserved cruise vacation for their unwavering dedication and inspires them to share their travel experience with their students upon their return.
To date the program has awarded 230 teachers across the U.S. and Canada with free cruises and donated over $350,000 to schools and educators since 2019. After the concert, the top three award winning teachers for 2022, met with Sommer, Clarkson and Christine Da Silva, Senior Vice President of Branding and Communications at Norwegian Cruise Line to celebrate their honor. Each teacher is featured on the Norwegian Giving Joy® webpage:
First Place NCL Teacher of the Year Patricia Hosmer
Patricia Hosmer won $25,000 For BAYONNE HIGH SCHOOL | BAYONNE, NJ. Mrs. Hosmer has been a dedicated teacher and curriculum writer at Bayonne High School for over 35 years. A widowed breast cancer survivor she teaches tirelessly not only at a traditional day school position, but also at an Alternative High School in the evening. She realizes that all students need a sense of importance, a positive self-image, and an awareness that their education is valuable. Therefore, she additionally helps tutor students who are unable to attend school due to illness and are home bound. She treats each student as if they were her own. As the President of New Jersey Collaboration and Partnership Schools she joins colleges and universities together with local schools to provide professional development for educators, students of education and Professors in those universities. She is kind, devoted and a marvelous science educator. She shows her students love and makes sure each knows how important they are to her in addition to teaching Biology, and Forensic Science. She helps each student reach their full potential. She remains in touch with many students as they grow into adulthood. Attending her former students’ weddings and baby showers is among her favorite things to do! She relishes watching them grow into their lives and become successful. Her students love her just as much as she loves them! Her biggest joy is being the mother of a wonderful 27-year-old Special Education teacher Rebeca. She and her daughter enjoy traveling, especially on NCL cruise ships!
Teacher Theresa Schrage
Theresa Schrage won $15,000 For FALCON COVE MIDDLE SCHOOL | WESTON, FL. She believes that all children can be inspired and motivated to learn. Many children have hurdles to overcome, but hard work and creativity is what makes a student strive in her Film and Creative Writing classes. Sometimes, it’s her class that keeps students coming to school, and she motivates them to do their best in other classes. Other times, she has students that are intelligent across the board and are high achievers, but they need to develop their creative side through Film and Creative Writing classes. Every year teachers face new challenges and need to develop a curriculum with the changing times and technology. Theresa’s classes give her the flexibility to help students adapt creatively to the changing times. Teaching has given her the opportunity to assist young people encouraging them to evolve and become a contributing member of our society. “As we all know, the children are our future,” said Schrage.
Award winning teacher Anthony Stripe
Anthony Stripe won $10,000 for NEW ROCHELLE HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ROCHELLE, NY. He believes that every student has the power to be great. As teachers, we have superpowers; when we put a grade on an assignment, we have the ability to make a student see himself or herself in a particular way. We label them a success, mark them as average, or, worst case, we set them up for failure. Anthony likes to create a classroom where all kids find something they excel in. When students struggle, I let them know it is okay to fail, make mistakes, correct those mistakes and grow. I was not always this way. Once a traditional English teacher, he would number my desks, teach generic writing formulas, and demand a quiet classroom. Years later, with opportunities to teach in new ways he was challenged to “get off my spot,” as he likes to say. “I now realizes it is not my job as a teacher to ask my students to move to me, instead I now realize I must find my student where they are if they are to be successful, or at least meet them half way. I am honored to teach in the largest Urban/Suburban high school outside of New York City, and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to bring all of these students together to see who they are, but also to help students see how far they can go if they reach.”
NCL will continue each year to award educators across North America who have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to inspiring students every day. After October 31, 2022, the Norwegian Prima sails from Galveston, TX to Miami offering three, seven-day western Caribbean cruises. She then sails to her homeport in Port Canaveral for 15 roundtrip western Caribbean voyages starting on December 11, 2022. Go to Norwegian Cruise Line for reservations on a cruise vacation.
