2022 #PKGThanksTeachers $500 Gift Card Giveaway – Winners Announced

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Introduction – Teacher Appreciation:

To emphasize teacher appreciation in the community, our team at Panini Kabob Grill decided to run one of our biggest giveaways. However, we decided that one week simply was not enough to celebrate our hard-working teachers fully. As a result, we wanted to give away $500 gift cards to 3 teachers per PKG restaurant for a total of 51 lucky winners!

The results are in…

With back-to-school season rolling in, what better time to announce the winners of our popular giveaway than now? Without further ado, we are excited to confirm that the winners have finally been selected! In other words, we encourage you to keep reading to find out if YOU or the teacher YOU nominated won! Firstly, we’ve broken the winners up by region for your convenience. For example, San Diego, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, etc. Secondly, under each section, you will find a list of all winners in addition to a photo gallery. The photo gallery contains information on who the teachers are and why their nominees felt they deserved to win. In conclusion, it is easy to find your favorite teacher and read their nomination(s) below!

But wait, there’s more!

First and foremost, we truly appreciate the support and participation you have shown us during this giveaway. It would not be possible without your efforts! As we read the countless nominations received, we realized that every teacher genuinely deserves a bit of teacher appreciation. Hence, we decided to reward all runner-up teachers (250 total) with a $50 gift card! That is to say, any teacher not receiving a $500 gift card will receive a $50 gift card. Congratulations from PKG to all the teachers who won!

San Diego County Giveaway Winners

Note: At the giveaway’s launch in May, Panini Kabob Grill’s San Diego locations were in Carlsbad, Del Mar, and Mission Valley.

$500 Gift Card Winners – San Diego County List | Teacher Appreciation

PKG Location$500 Gift Card WinnerSchool
CarlsbadAllison Cukr, 5th Grade TeacherE Hale Curran Elementary School
CarlsbadMonique Combs, ATP TeacherOceanside Unified School District (Adult Transition Program)
CarlsbadBrian Sullivan, Head Coach (Track and Cross Country)Pacific Ridge School
Del MarAndrea Appel, 1st Grade TeacherCarmel Del Mar Elementary School
Del MarJanelle Ruge, AP US Government and Economics TeacherSanta Fe Christian Schools
Del MarMatthew Singley, 5th Grade TeacherSolana Pacific Elementary School
Mission ValleyNikki Kirchner, Special Education TeacherPacific Trails Middle School
Mission ValleyFrank Shadpour, InstructorUC San Diego – Extended Studies
Mission ValleyMelissa Hutchinson, English TeacherValhalla High School
This list contains all teachers who are winners of a PKG $500 gift card in San Diego county.

$500 Gift Card Winners – San Diego County Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation


$50 Gift Card Winners – San Diego County Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation


Los Angeles County Giveaway Winners

Note: At the giveaway’s launch in May, Panini Kabob Grill had the following locations open in Los Angeles County: Burbank, Century City, Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), Downtown Long Beach (DTLB), Long Beach (LBX), and Woodland Hills. Check out the list of winners and a photo gallery to learn more about which teachers won and their stories.

$500 Gift Card Winners – Los Angeles County List | Teacher Appreciation

PKG Location$500 Gift Card WinnerSchool
BurbankConnie Struyk, 2nd Grade TeacherThomas Jefferson Elementary School
BurbankCarlos Ferreira, Professor of Environmental DesignArtCenter College of Design
BurbankSarah Romero, 2nd Grade and Dual Language Immersion TeacherOld Orchard Elementary School
Century CityJohn Lee, Digital Media Teacher University High School Charter
Century CityJulie Miller, Kindergarten TeacherFairburn Avenue Elementary School
Century CityJackie Yeck, Medical Careers Elective Teacher Northridge Middle School
Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA)Karen Cabot, 3rd Grade TeacherArroyo Vista Elementary School
Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA)Daniele Della Gala, 5th Grade Teacher Cantara Street School
Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA)Shari Laham, 3rd Grade Teacher Kenter Canyon Elementary School
Downtown Long Beach (DTLB)Mariah Biri, 2nd Grade TeacherMinnie Gant Elementary School
Downtown Long Beach (DTLB)Julie Leon, Special Education and Social Studies Teacher Phineas Banning School
Downtown Long Beach (DTLB)Inga Peterson, 3rd Grade TeacherColin Powell Academy for Success
Long Beach LBXHolly Amore, Culinary Arts TeacherParamount High School
Long Beach LBXJessica Saldana, 1st Grade Teacher Unsworth Elementary School
Long Beach LBXStephanie Kawasami, 3rd Grade TeacherCecil B. Stowers’ Middle School
Woodland HillsJennifer Lee, Art TeacherNewbury Park High School
Woodland HillsBryant Cooper, G+STEAM TeacherChatsworth Charter High School
Woodland HillsDevon Saxon, Math Teacher and Cheer CoachBirmingham Charter High School
This list contains all teachers who are winners of a PKG $500 gift card in Los Angeles county.

$500 Gift Card Winners – Los Angeles County Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation


$50 Gift Card Winners – Long Beach Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation

$50 Gift Card Winners – Los Angeles Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation


Orange County Giveaway Winners

Note: At the giveaway’s launch in May, Panini Kabob Grill had the following locations open in Orange County: Brea, Corona Del Mar, Irvine Park Place, Irvine Los Olivos, Mission Viejo, and Santa Ana. Check out the list of winners and a photo gallery to learn more about which teachers won and their stories.

$500 Gift Card Winners – Orange County List | Teacher Appreciation

PKG Location$500 Gift Card WinnerSchool
BreaJennifer Coto, Dean (Counseling & Student Services)Santiago Canyon College
BreaRosemary Rosales, Kindergarten & Dual Language Immersion TeacherSunkist Elementary School
BreaRyan Stegink, English TeacherRosary Academy
Corona Del MarTaryn Flamson, 6th Grade TeacherHarbor View Elementary School
Corona Del MarLinda Chiao, 4th Grade Teacher Harbor Day School
Corona Del MarStephanie Korotko, 3rd Grade Teacher Our Lady Queen of Angels School
Irvine Los OlivosCindy Adlparvar, 5th Grade Teacher Arroyo Vista Elementary School
Irvine Los OlivosChristina Monroe, 4th Grade Teacher Cypress Village Elementary School
Irvine Los OlivosMonnica Som, Math TeacherNew Horizon School – Irvine
Irvine Park Place Mili Mehta, DMS Instructor Platt College
Irvine Park Place Heather Stragier, 5th Grade TeacherStonegate Elementary School
Irvine Park Place Cynthia Almeida, 2nd Grade Teacher Davis Magnet School
Mission ViejoJonathan Buckman, Special Education & Math Teacher Aliso Niguel High School
Mission ViejoTracy Cargill, 6th Grade Teacher Stoneybrooke Christian School
Mission ViejoKevin Silva, 6th & 7th Grade Social Science Teacher Fred Newhart Middle School
Santa AnaJeffrey West, Math Teacher, Girls Tennis Coach, & Assistant Varsity Baseball CoachCentury High School
Santa AnaGabriela Rodriguez, 2nd Grade & Spanish Dual Immersion Teacher Sycamore Magnet Academy
Santa AnaDanielle Rodriguez, Special Education Teacher Ladera Elementary School
This list contains all teachers who are winners of a PKG $500 gift card in Orange county.

$500 Gift Card Winners – Orange County Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation


$50 Gift Card Winners – Orange County Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation

Inland Empire Giveaway Winners

Note: At the giveaway’s launch in May, Panini Kabob Grill had the following locations open in the Inland Empire: Riverside and Rancho Cucamonga. Check out the list of winners and a photo gallery to learn more about which teachers won and their stories.

$500 Gift Card Winners – Inland Empire List | Teacher Appreciation

PKG Location$500 Gift Card WinnerSchool
Rancho CucamongaMarla Bailey, 6th Grade TeacherVista Grande Elementary School
Rancho CucamongaMitesh Shah, 8th Grade Math Teacher Foothill Country Day School
Rancho CucamongaChristine Urrutia, 3rd Grade TeacherAlta Loma Christian School
RiversideJason Parry, English Language Arts Teacher Badger Springs Middle School
RiversideBarbara Sabatini, 2nd & 3rd Grade Special Day Class TeacherCloverdale Elementary School
RiversideLourdes Ruelas, TK-DI Teacher Pedley Elementary School
This list contains all teachers who are winners of a PKG $500 gift card in the Inland Empire.

$500 Gift Card Winners – Inland Empire Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation


$50 Gift Card Winners – Inland Empire Photo Gallery | Teacher Appreciation