Norwegian Cruise Lines awarded cruises to 30 educators as well as thousands of dollars to their schools as part of its Giving Joy campaign, an effort to reward teachers who inspire students and bring joy into the classroom.
Locally, Noblesville West Middle School and teacher Jason Seaman were honored.
The month-long campaign, which recognized the powerful connection between travel and education, launched in advance of the newly revitalized Norwegian Joy’s North American inaugural sailing during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6 to 10. The 30 teachers with the most votes won a seven-day cruise for two and were provided with airfare and accommodations for an award ceremony in Seattle on May 3. There, the three grand prize finalists were awarded with $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 for their schools.
Noblesville West Middle School received $15,000 from the cruise line.
The teachers were invited to join a public pier side celebration at the Port of Seattle’s Bell Street Pier prior to Norwegian Joy’s first sailing from Seattle, Wash. The event featured a performance by Norwegian Joy’s cast of “Footloose,” the live music of Caety Sagoian and band, a dance performance from the Northwest Tap Connection youth program, free Starbucks beverages, and a variety of family-friendly activities including a ‘Wall of Joy,’ which invited attendees to share what brings them joy.