ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)— Congratulations to Julie Nicholas, our latest Golden Apple Award winner. Nicholas is a Math teacher at East High School in Rochester. But the lessons she teaches students go far beyond the walls of the classroom. Principal Caterina Leone-Mannino says, "She works very hard with students, not just in the classroom, but beyond. She has been known to take rides out to college campuses to drop things off for kids that have graduated and started freshman year. She has done collections for dorm room set-ups and so she sees her success not only in student learning in the classroom but well beyond the walls of East and into the future." Nicholas works hard to make sure her students have a bright future, and her co-workers wanted to make sure she was recognized for her efforts. Sixto Bermudez says, "I feel like a lot of city school district teachers don't get recognized enough and this was a great opportunity for her to present her with this award because she is very well deserved of it." Miss Nicholas has been a teacher for 23 years and before that worked as a therapist. It's a unique skill set that allows her to make sure her students do well in math and life. Nicholas says, "It's just in me and it's probably because of how I was raised and I'm grateful for my parents for that nurturing environment. I didn't come from a lot, so I had to work hard for everything that I had, and my parents taught me good work ethic, so I also think I try to encourage my students for that." The Golden Apple Award was icing on the cake. But she says the real reward is seeing her students succeed. Nicholas says, "when a kid graduates, and they didn't think they could and then they look you up after they've graduated, and they come back and tell you their success stories and the impact that you've had on them. I'm sure that means a lot- yea it does."