The second round H.O.P.E. Awards were granted to Mrs. Maria Porter and Miss Katie Gigl for March. This month’s theme was “motivates me to be a better student.” It is evident from the student responses located at the entrance of the building that both teachers have had a great impact on classrooms full of students. Porter, one of the award winners, has been teaching at Freedom for seven years, which has been her only teaching job. She teaches Honors US History and Psychology. “I am clearly an energetic, loud, creative teacher. I like to get all my kids involved,” Porter said. “I am truly honored by it. To know my kids actually feel that way about me, it warms my heart,” Porter said. Gigl, who is also a history teacher, began working at Freedom this year. She teaches World History to Sophomores and also runs the World Affairs Club. “I like to do hands on things that gets them up and running. If I’m excited about it, even if they think it’s a lame subject, they’ll be interested in learning about it,” Gigl said. “It’s a huge, huge honor to be recognized because all of the faculty here worked their butts off, and to be recognized, it’s super, super flattering,” Gigl said.