• by Tanya Gazdik , January 3, 2022

The National Hockey League, the NHL Players' Association, enterprise software company SAP and social impact education innovator Everfi are coming together to recognize teachers. 

With the shift to virtual learning during the past few years because of the pandemic, teachers have become even more important in the lives of their students, according to the sports league and its partners. 

The Future Goals Most Valuable Teacher program presented by SAP, now in its third year, will recognize 20 teachers, who have used the Future Goals Hockey Scholar program. 

Starting Jan. 1 through March 31, fans can go to NHL.com/MVT and vote for their favorite to win the Most Valuable Teacher of the Month award. The nominee with the most votes at the end of each month will receive $10,000 worth of technology donations provided by SAP as well as street hockey equipment.

The monthly voting will then narrow the field down to three finalists. Final voting will take place May 2-6, during Teacher Appreciation Week 2022.he winner will receive an additional $20,000 donation from SAP to use in their school district toward environmental sustainability resources.

The contest is an extension of the Future Goals program, which is funded by the NHL and NHLPA, and provides resources to teachers, parents and families using a digital hockey-themed Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum for elementary and middle school students.

The program grew in fan participation last year, garnering a 206% increase in votes from 2020, per the NHL.