Technology teacher Robert Kaneko and librarian Shauna Yusko at Evergreen Junior High School in Redmond have been recognized by the ING Unsung Heroes program and have been awarded $2,000 to help fund their “Beyond Reading” program.

The Unsung Heroes program is in its 15th year and recognizes educators who have a significant impact on the lives of youth, but remain tremendously under-appreciated and unrecognized.

Kaneko and Yusko were among 100 winners across the country who received a $2,000 grant and will now compete with other winners for one of the top three prizes: an additional $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000.

“Beyond Reading” involves writing, illustrating, and publishing for students. By combining multiple subjects including art, literature, math, science, technology, and/or foreign language, seventh-grade students will design self-published children’s picture books. After repurposing the book content, recording audio books, and creating eBooks, they will take field trips to five local elementary schools to share their work with kindergarten classes. Copies of the books will be selected and donated to the elementary schools to become a part of the library collection at each school.

Through the project, students have the opportunity to explore creative writing rather than expository or persuasive writing. They also experience the differences between traditional media such as paperback and hardback books versus new media such as audio books and eBooks.

The goal of the program is to extend its reach into new areas opened up by devices such as the Apple iPad, Nook and Kindle. With the funds from the ING grant, Kaneko and Yusko will purchase iPads, microphones and other items to help make the goal a reality.

“Fifteen years ago we made the commitment to invest in the innovative program ideas from educators in states, cities and schools across the United States who make the daily investment of preparing our children for the future. It has been a winning investment,” said Brian Comer, president of public markets for ING U.S. Retirement Services. “We hope the additional funds Robert Kaneko and Shauna Yusko were awarded through the ING Unsung Heroes program will help to sustain their program and continue to make an impact on the children they serve and their community.”

Since honoring the first “unsung hero” in 1996, ING has awarded nearly $3.8 million to 1,600 educators across the country for their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects and ability to positively influence the children they teach. The 2011 ING Unsung Heroes winners were selected from a group of more than 1,400 applications.

For more information about ING Unsung Heroes, visit Facebook page, www.facebook.com/unsungheroesgrant. Applications for the 2012 ING Unsung Heroes awards are available on the website.