The Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award is given to business officers who have made extraordinary contributions to their schools and exemplify exceptional integrity, knowledge and motivation. At the end of each school year, new Unsung Heroes receive their award from their head of school, often at a significant school occasion such as a board meeting or an all-school ceremony. What makes these Unsung Heroes so special? The highlights below come straight from their colleagues' nominations.
See a full list of the 2024 recipients. Stay tuned throughout the summer for additional profiles.
Title: Business Manager
School: All Saints Episcopal School
Superpower: Tuition Transformation. April Cerkiewicz has transformed All Saints Episcopal School’s tuition assistance program, increasing the percentage of families receiving aid from less than 10% to 30% in just one year. Over the course of five years, Cerkiewicz tirelessly advocated for the program and guided families through the transition.
Her communication with parents has “destigmatized and demystified the application process,” said Director of Security Melanie Heartfield. Cerkiewicz also introduced an Early Response Tuition Assistance process, allowing parents to know their net tuition before enrolling. Additionally, she created instructional videos for the school’s financial aid application web page and actively seeks emergency financial aid when the need arises.
Ace Problem Solver: “When a problem arises, she is quick to have several potential solutions,” whether managing a weekend power outage or personally retrieving a misdelivered package. “She is well-connected within the community, which allows her to swiftly get quotes, problems solved or anything else the school needs accomplished,” said Heartfield.
She is a fundamental piece of our school, and we could not function at this level without her… She is a hero in my eyes.
Heart of gold: “My office is right next to hers, and I have a vantage point to witness the kindness and patience with which she interacts with every family going through this sometimes-overwhelming series of steps [in the financial aid process]. April is kind yet clear. She is approachable, non-judgmental and informative with every person who enters her office.”
Dependable cornerstone: Cerkiewicz is a “pillar of the institution,” said Heartfield. “She is a fundamental piece of our school, and we could not function at this level without her… She is a hero in my eyes.”
Other Duties as Assigned: Cerkiewicz leads Holy Communion at Chapel services and frequently participates in community events to assist with logistics.
