The Missouri Retired Teachers Association and public school personnel will honor Sandra K. Applegate as the organization’s 2013 Distinguished Retiree at its annual meeting Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.

Applegate, a retired Mehlville School District teacher, was selected from a slate of 14 regional winners by a panel of judges representing 10 Missouri education organizations, according to a news release.

The Missouri Retired Teachers Association, or MRTA, Distinguished Retiree Award program recognizes members who have given service beyond the call of duty, the release stated. Nominations for this award are accepted from MRTA members.

Criteria are based on his or her professional biography, MRTA involvement, contributions to public education, community service and volunteer work since retirement.

Applegate is a member of the St. Louis Suburban Retired Educators Association and the Mehlville Retired Educators Association, MRTA Region 8. She has served in many MRTA leadership positions within both MRTA local units.

Applegate has been successful at growing membership by setting goals, changing meeting venues and introducing new activities, according to the release.

Her leadership extends into community service, including organizing the Mehlville School District’s Academic Olympics; participating in OASIS tutoring; working with the Mehlville-Oakville Foundation; supporting Bethel 12, a unit of the International Order of Job’s Daughters; and collecting books and stuffed animals for Ready to Learn, a not-for-profit group.

Applegate also is a member of the St. Louis Zoo Association, the Humane Society and the Endangered Wolf Center.

The MRTA, organized in 1960, is an association of 22,000 retired educators whose purpose is to promote the professional, social and economic welfare of all retired school employees.