Barnes & Noble Geneva Commons celebrates teachers with annual 'My Favorite Teacher Contest'

The Barnes & Noble stores in Geneva Commons and at Spring Hill Mall are accepting nominations for the 2019 "Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest."

The contest provides high school students with the opportunity to share their appreciation for their teachers with their local communities. Now in its ninth year, the contest launched on Valentine's Day to give students the opportunity to show love and appreciation to their teachers.

High school students can nominate kindergarten to 12th-grade teachers through March 14 by writing essays, poems or thank-you letters detailing how much their teachers have impacted their lives and why they appreciate them.

Entries will be collected online only at www.bn.com/myfavoriteteacher, and judged on the compelling nature of the teacher's inspiring qualities, the sincerity of the student's appreciation, and the quality of expression and writing.

Entries must be in English and cannot exceed 500 words.

Only high school students age 14 or older at the time of entry and active teachers employed by elementary, middle or high schools in the U.S. are eligible to win.

The "Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year" will receive $5,000, and their school will receive an additional $5,000.

The award recipient also will be recognized at a special community celebration at their local Barnes & Noble store. The student who writes the national winning essay, poem or thank-you letter will win a $100 Barnes & Noble Gift Card.

Last year's winner, Lem Andrews, a postsecondary adviser from Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida, who was nominated by former student Ellen Bausback, had this to say about winning: "It's truly an honor to be recognized by Barnes & Noble as Teacher of the Year. Out of the hundreds of students you work with, to have one that's inspired enough to write something about you is a reward like no other."

Barnes & Noble continuously displays its appreciation for educators everywhere through Educator Appreciation Days throughout the year that provide educators with special discounts, personalized service, in-store events, bookfairs, store tours for students and teachers and, since 2010, through the My Favorite Teacher Contest.

High school students who want to participate must submit their entry to www.bn.com/myfavoriteteacher by 11:59 p.m. March 14.

Customers should visit the website for complete details and official My Favorite Teacher Contest rules.