H-E-B announces Excellence in Education Award winners

AUSTIN, Texas — H-E-B announced the statewide winners of its 12th annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards during a banquet at Austin’s Hilton Hotel.

At the ceremony, H-E-B chairman and CEO Charles Butt disbursed $585,000 in cash awards and grants and personally congratulated 23 educators, campuses, school districts and one early childhood agency for being among the best in Texas.

Former CNN anchor and current documentary producer Soledad O’Brien delivered the keynote address to a ballroom packed with hundreds of educators, elected officials, community leaders and H-E-B employees.

H-E-B launched the Excellence in Education Awards program in cooperation with the Texas Association of School Administrators in 2002 as a positive way to support public education in Texas by spotlighting best practices and celebrating the passion and creativity of Texas educators. Since its inception, H-E-B has given more than $6.5 million, making it the state’s largest monetary award program dedicated to education, the grocer reported.

With sales of more than $19.4 billion, H-E-B operates more than 350 stores in Texas and Mexico. It celebrated its 105th anniversary in 2010. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B has more than 80,000 employees and serves millions of customers in more than 150 communities.