Golden Apple Impact Award

 
 

In 2024, The Golden Apple Foundation honored Dr. Maureen Dunne as the recipient of the Golden Apple Impact Award. Dunne is a globally recognized neurodiversity expert, thought leader, public policy professional and champion. She currently serves as the neurodiversity expert for the LEGO Foundation’s $20 million Play For All global accelerator social impact fund targeting neurodiversity inclusion. She is also the co-founder of the first neurodiversity social impact investment association and the CEO of Autism Community Ventures, a neurodiversity inclusion consultancy and social impact firm.

Dunne is also an elected official and education advocate, promoting neurodiversity inclusion with leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels. She currently serves as Board Chair at College of DuPage (one of the largest single campus community colleges), as President of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (a statewide legislative advocacy and trustee education organization that represents 48 member colleges serving over 700,000 students), and as Board Director of the Association of Community College Trustees, where she helps guide policy and advocacy efforts affecting more than 12 million community college students in the United States and beyond.

The Golden Apple Impact Award is given to a private individual, company, policy maker, or decision maker who has significantly impacted the lives of Illinois' students through their work in education. Proceeds will support Golden Apple's Scholars Program, which prepares aspiring teachers to be highly effective in schools-of-need with a special focus on diversity, first-generation students, and hard-to-staff subject areas. 

 
 

Impact Award Eligibility Criteria

  • Demonstrates fearless leadership in the face of adversity

  • Wholly dedicated to better outcomes for all students in Illinois

  • Delivers an aspirational vision for the future and the strategies to achieve the vision

  • Modernizes engagement with students via technology and access to relevant global peers

  • Facilitates gatherings of leaders in education, business, philanthropy, and technology to improve the education experiences of students

  • Inspires entrepreneurial groups of individuals, organizations, or coalitions to improve outcomes for students

  • Invests resources to affect change in innovative ideas, technology, and/or organizations

  • Demonstrates data-driven, research-based decision-making while increasing innovation

  • Engages multiple stakeholders in the delivery of services to students most-in-need

  • Consistently uses sound, unwavering, ethical judgment

Impact Award Recipients

David Chandler

Dr. Janice K. Jackson

BMO Harris Bank

Award accepted by Dave Casper and John Smart

Barbara Bowman

Pat and Mike Koldyke