Lindblom Academy’s ‘Incredibly Humble’ Robotics Teacher Wins Golden Apple Award

Introduction to the Award

Nick Anaya had a “strong inclination” that he might receive the Golden Apple Teaching Award Wednesday afternoon. Anaya, an engineering and robotics teacher at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, was invited to the school’s gymnasium for a “robotics celebration,” he said. As leader of the school’s fast-growing robotics team, he wasn’t sure what that meant. “But I didn’t want to jinx it,” Anaya said. “I told people to come today, and if it turned out to not be what I thought it was, we could go out after school and have a party.”

Anaya was correct, but he was still brought to tears Wednesday as leaders at the Golden Apple Foundation surprised him on stage and announced he was a recipient of the 2025 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is one of 11 Illinois educators to receive the prestigious award out of more than 470 nominations.
Nick Anaya is one of 11 teachers to receive the prestigious Golden Apple Award. Credit: Golden Apple Foundation
Along with a basket of golden apples, Anaya received a $5,000 cash award and a free spring sabbatical provided by Northwestern University. Golden Apple Teaching Award winners also become fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators.
“The reason why I teach is I love robotics,” Anaya said. “When my wife asks me how my day was, I usually say it was pretty good. Not everyone gets to say that.”

A Special Place To Work

Anaya joined Lindblom Math and Science Academy as a volunteer on the school’s robotics team in 2008, he said.
The school was “such a special place to work and a special place to be” that he made the push to become a full-time educator at the Englewood school. He’s been the school’s engineering and robotics teacher since 2016.
Anaya has grown the robotics program from 10 to 100 students during his tenure. He led Team 1781, Lindblom’s program for robotics, to its first regional victory in the 2019 Central Illinois Regional competition.
Nick Anaya has taught engineering and robotics at Lindblom Math and Science Academy since 2016. Credit: Golden Apple Foundation
Under Anaya’s leadership, students have been admitted into the country’s top engineering programs at the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said Lindblom Principal Starlet Banks. Anaya has helped students secure internships at John Deere, Amazon, Google and other top local and national organizations, Banks said.
Anaya is a “curious person by nature who encourages students’ curiosity,” Banks said. He also happens to be a genuine and funny guy, Banks said.
“He’s an incredibly humble and hard-working human being who is selfless and committed to supporting others, not just our students,” Banks said. “The world needs a lot more of that now. It’s in short supply in some areas. It makes my job as an administrator easier knowing that we have an educator like Mr. Anaya who is supporting our students inside and outside of the classroom and continuing to mentor them beyond high school graduation.”
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