Norwegian Cruise Line named two Osceola County teachers as winners in its annual Norwegian's Giving Joy® contest.
The contest has been celebrating teachers across North America since 2019, “For their hard work and relentless dedication,” the cruise line said.
Gabriela Colon at Deerwood Elementary School in Kissimmee and Samantha Alfred at Narcoossee Middle School in St. Cloud are among 20 winning educators who won a free seven-day voyage for two. From that group, the top three were selected attend the christening voyage for the new Norwegian Viva ship in August.
Alfred has 25 years of teaching service, and teaches math at Narcoossee, her bio on the contest webpage said. “She comes up with creative ways to engage her students until they master the concept. Everyone at Narcoossee Middle School knows that Ms. Alfred goes above and beyond to get her students excited about learning. With tutoring in the morning, after school, and on weekends I cannot think of any teacher more deserving of a relaxing cruise.”
Colon teaches fourth grade at Deerwood.
“She has worked so hard this school year to meet the needs of all of her students and even spent some of her own money to provide them with fun and engaging activities,” her bio page says. “She has always done everything without wanting something in return. All she does it’s out of love. It would be awesome to gift this to Mrs. Colon and give her the chance of a cruise experience.”
