PETOSKEY — At its Wednesday meeting, the Rotary Club of Petoskey celebrated the 2022 Teacher of the Year and its recent grant recipients. 

In its 30th year of recognizing Petoskey teachers, the club presented the Teacher of the Year award to Sarah Jonker, a kindergarten teacher at Central Elementary School.

“I was a little embarrassed, but very honored,” Jonker said. “It's very nice. Any positive acknowledgement of teachers is so great. You work so hard and it's great when someone says ‘good job’”

The club awarded more than $110,000 to local nonprofits through two of its divisions: The Petoskey Rotary Club Charities, Inc. and the Rotary Park Fund.

More:Rotary Club of Petoskey announces two grant opportunities

Funds for The Petoskey Rotary Club Charities, Inc. came from annual sales of a raffle calendar. On Wednesday, 10 organizations received grants from the charity.

The Rotary Park Fund awarded grants to nine organizations, totaling $88,398.

“I would like to congratulate all of the Parks Fund grant recipients,” said club president Ashley Whitney after presenting the recipients. “I very much appreciate you coming here. I very much appreciate you applying for this and I'm so appreciative to this club for all the work that we do to generate the funds that allow us to do this. So thank you everyone.”

The Rotary Club of Petoskey is made up of approximately 90 community members who meet weekly at  on Wednesdays at the Perry Hotel. More information can be found on the club’s website.

Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @Tess_Petoskey