Rory Dippold, a teacher at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, received the Golden Gavel Award from the Fairfax Law Foundation at the foundation’s annual gala last Wednesday.

Dippold was recognized for his dedication to his students and his extracurricular efforts to teach them civic responsibility, the rule of law and the importance of community service.

Earlier this year he was recognized as the Teacher of the Year by Virginia National History Day and was also nominated for the Agnes Meyer Award.

In 2009, he led a group of seventh graders from Henderson on a trip to Philadelphia, where they won first place for their civic project presentation at the Project Citizen competition, sponsored by the Council of State Legislators.