Voya surprises Montana teacher with $27,000 to support her "Indigi-STEAM" program for the Crow Reservation

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), a leading provider of retirement plans for educators, announced today that Connie Michael, a teacher with Crow Agency Public School in Crow Agency, Montana, has been selected as the grand prize winner as part of the company’s 2025 Unsung Heroes awards competition. In addition to the 50 $2,000 grants to K-12 educators, Voya provides additional awards to the top three educational programs. All the applications received from teachers are evaluated by Scholarship America, Voya’s partner in the Unsung Heroes program.

Left to Right: Assistant Superintendent Angie Keltner, Debbie Vichot (Voya), Connie Michael (winner), Sherry Foote (School Principal)

As the first-place winner, Michael received the $25,000 award in a surprise check presentation in addition to $2,000 she received as one of the 50 national finalists — bringing her total financial award to $27,000. This money will be used to increase the number of resources used to bring her program to life, including books, videos, cultural speakers from the community, robotic kits and coding tools, night cameras, telescopes, rocketry and space materials, scientists, and environmental professional presenters, along with Yellowstone National Park and prairie field trips. The program aims not only to expose students to the connection between STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and culture, but also expose them to a variety of career options as well.

The second-place winner is Stacy Trosin at Pinckney Community High School in Pinckney, Michigan, where she received a total of $12,000, and the third-place winner is a group of teachers (Jackie McMahon and Cinzia Bibb, with support from principal Julie DeLuca and assistant principal Brooke Concannon) at Thorntons Ferry School in Merrimack, New Hampshire, where they received a total of $7,000.

For 29 years, the Voya Unsung Heroes program has awarded grants to K-12 educators in the United States to recognize and support their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and their ability to positively influence the children they teach. Since the program’s inception, Voya has awarded more than $6 million in support of educators through this nationwide program.

“Today, we proudly celebrate the extraordinary educators—teachers, staff, and administrators—whose everyday dedication shapes young minds and fuels dreams,” said Angela Harrell, SVP, Chief Purpose, Talent & Inclusion Officer and President of Voya Foundation. “Through Voya’s Unsung Heroes program and our broader educational initiatives, we’re spotlighting the bold, creative teaching practices that ignite curiosity, inspire learning, and empower the next generation of change agents.”

Michael's innovative teaching idea, "Indigi-STEAM," will bring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math education to the Crow Reservation, where students lack exposure to STEAM concepts and careers. A vital component of Indigi-STEAM is the integration of Indigenous knowledge. The Crow’s rich heritage of scientific observation and engineering ingenuity will be woven into the curriculum. By doing so, the project demonstrates the interconnectedness of science and culture, affirming students' cultural identity within modern innovation. With access to hands-on, place-based learning, "Indigi-STEAM" is designed to cultivate a new generation of Indigenous innovators. The Voya grant will be used to enhance resources with robotics kits, and coding tools, in an effort to facilitate interactive learning. By fostering curiosity, innovation, and cultural pride, Michael wants students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, essential for success in a rapidly changing world.

"On behalf of all of us at Crow Agency Elementary and Hardin Public Schools, we are proud to celebrate Connie Michael’s selection as the 2025 Voya Unsung Heroes Grand Prize winner," said Sherry Foote, Principal of Crow Agency Elementary. "Her leadership, creativity, and deep commitment to our students make her truly deserving of this national recognition. The additional funding will allow her to continue expanding opportunities that honor and uplift Indigenous voices in education."

To learn more about this year’s winning projects, as well as those from previous years, visit the Unsung Heroes website.

Unsung Heroes is part of Voya Foundation’s signature program, Voya Teacher Voices, that focuses on empowering teachers to become leaders by promoting the teaching career, recognizing high-achieving educators, providing training opportunities, and offering financial support to achieve their goals.

About the Voya Foundation
Voya Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in communities where Voya Financial operates and its employees and customers live. Voya Foundation provides grants and establishes signature partnerships in the areas of financial literacy and children's education and fosters employee engagement to deepen our positive impact on the community. For more information, visit VoyaFoundation.com.

About Voya Financial^®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) is a leading retirement, employee benefits and investment management company. Voya’s services and solutions help clear the path to financial confidence and a more fulfilling life for approximately 15.7 million individual, workplace and institutional clients. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work^® Institute, Voya fosters a culture that values customer-centricity, integrity, accountability, agility and inclusivity. Voya employees fight together with customers and partners for everyone's opportunity for a better financial future. For more information, visit voya.com and follow Voya Financial on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251106198082/en/

Media Contact:

Natasha Smith

Voya Financial

(212) 309-8200

Natasha.Smith@voya.com

Source: Voya Financial, Inc.