10 Teachers Honored With Sondheim Awards In D.C.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Kennedy Center in Washington is honoring 10 teachers with $10,000 grants for inspiring and influencing their students.

The grants announced Thursday honor Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim on his 80th birthday. The grants are funded through a gift from Freddie Gershon, chairman of the licensing group Music Theatre International.

Honorees include: Chris Bundy of Floyds Knobs, Ind.; Vincent Catano of West Roxbury, Mass.; Christopher Collins of Emory, Texas; Amy Gibson of Huntington, Md.; Richard Golenko of Houston; Riffat Hassan of Louisville, Ky.; John Long of Montgomery, Ala.; Donna Porter of Picayune, Miss.; Nicole Waicunas of Storrs, Conn.; and Roderick Zano of Virginia Beach, Va.

Teachers from kindergarten through college level are eligible.

Sondheim has won more Tony Awards than any other composer. His musicals include "Follies" and "Sweeney Todd."

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)