ADDISON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 20, 2026--
National Life Group announced that Business Entrepreneurship Teacher, Jenora Haynes, was chosen by an independent panel of educators as the 2025-2026 National Life Group LifeChanger of the Year grand prize winner. Haynes was selected from a pool of over 1,000 nominees from all 50 states and will receive a $20,000 prize which will be split equally between herself and her school.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260220773981/en/
Haynes teaches at Westbury High School, a Title 1 school, in Houston, Texas, where she introduced a DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) chapter to students. DECA prepares high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. She has been nominated for the National Society of High School Scholars Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction and received the DECA Outstanding Advisor Award, the DECA Advisor Appreciation Award, and the Above and Beyond Award.
One comment included on Haynes’ LifeChanger of the Year nomination profile reflects the impact she makes on her students: “Ms. Haynes . . . truly changed the direction of my life. Before I met her, I was slipping into trouble and didn’t really see a clear path for myself. But she saw potential in me that I didn’t even recognize. She pushed me to stay focused, challenged me to think bigger, and taught me how discipline and responsibility can open doors. Her belief in me made me want to do better, not just in school but in life. Because of her guidance, I stayed out of trouble and started to believe in my own future. She didn’t just teach me business—she helped me find purpose.”
“National Life Group is proud to recognize and support incredible school employees who step in and step up, every day,” said Mehran Assadi, Chairman, CEO, and President of National Life Group. “Jenora models servant leadership, giving selflessly to lift others. We hope this grand prize will not only bring awareness to her good work at Westbury High but also shine a light on her students who have persevered thanks to her encouragement.”
Haynes’ nominator wrote, “Beyond academics, she also brings in moments of encouragement, humor, and reflection to keep the environment uplifting and supportive. Whether it's starting the day with an inspiring quote, sharing real-world success stories, or simply checking in on how students are feeling, she strives to make her classroom a space where students feel motivated to show up as their best selves…she works to create an inclusive atmosphere where mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn rather than setbacks.”
Outside of teaching at Westbury High School, Haynes owns and runs Incassable Fashion that designs and sells statement pieces online.
About National Life Group LifeChanger of the Year®
National Life Group LifeChanger of the Year is an annual program recognizing K-12 educators and school employees nationwide. The program celebrates those making a significant difference in students' lives by exemplifying excellence, positive influence, and leadership. Anyone can nominate a LifeChanger on the program’s website.
In addition to a grand prize, National Life Group will present 16 additional awards over the next few months to winners chosen by this year’s Selection Committee.
The National Life Group LifeChanger of the Year program was established in 2011 and has since recognized almost 10,000 school employees from throughout the country. During that time, the company has donated close to $1 million in awards to selected nominees and their schools.
Some previous winners have used their awards to further the programs they were recognized for. Brian Copes, a 2017-2018 grand prize winner, expanded the program he leads with his students at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama to provide prosthetic legs to amputees in Honduras. He now calls his program “LifeChanger Manufacturing.”
About National Life Group
National Life Group has been keeping promises since 1848, providing access to flexible, secure life insurance and annuities for families, businesses, educators, and first responders nationwide. With an independent, entrepreneurial spirit, our values are to “Do good, Be good, Make good” for our customers, agents, employees, and the communities we serve. Learn more at NationalLife.com.
National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company (NLIC), Montpelier, VT founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (LSW), Addison, TX chartered in 1955, and its affiliates. Each company is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. LSW is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. NLIC, the flagship of National Life Group was founded in 1848, and all references to 1848 are attributable to NLIC.
Products are issued by National Life Insurance Company and Life Insurance Company of the Southwest.
Grand Prize Winner Jenora Haynes
MILAN (AP) — Alysa Liu probably cared the least of all the women in figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics about winning the gold medal.
Maybe that is why she won it.
The 20-year-old with the striped hair, prominent frenulum piercing and carefree attitude never showed any worry or strain when she took the ice for her free skate on Thursday night. Instead, Liu waved up at her friends and family in the stands, grinned throughout her program, and acted as if she was going through just another training session at the Oakland Ice Center back in California.
“My family is out there. My friends are out there. I had to put on a show for them,” Liu said afterward. “When I see other people out there smiling, because I see them in the audience, then I have to smile, too. I have no poker face.”
It was all smiles for her crew after Donna Summer's version of “MacArthur Park” came to a conclusion. Liu earned a score of 226.79 points, sending her surging past silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto and Japanese teammate Ami Nakai, who took bronze.
Liu's coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, embraced in a hug, content in knowing that a comeback two years in the making had achieved something incredible: The first women's figure skating gold medal for the U.S. since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Liu's family members stood and cheered, as did the rest of the crowd inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
No doubt every official at U.S. Figure Skating, and every member of its Olympic team, also felt a surge of joy. Or relief. It had been a frustrating Winter Games on a number of levels, beginning with some controversial ice dance scoring that denied Madison Chock and Evan Bates the gold medal, and continuing right through Ilia Malinin's struggles in his free skate earlier in the week.
The only golden moment until Thursday night had been the team event, when Liu helped the U.S. defend its Olympic title.
“If I had a nickel for every gold medal I have here,” Liu joked, “I would have two!”
That's the kind of "dad joke" only Liu would crack after triumphing on figure skating's grandest stage.
Four years ago, the daughter of a Chinese immigrant was in a much different mental state. Liu had just finished sixth at the Beijing Games as a 16-year-old prodigy, but she might as well have finished last. She was so burned out by figure skating that her prevailing thought after that Olympic free skate was relief that it was over, rather than pride in what she had accomplished.
She was the kid who'd get dropped off at the rink in the morning and picked up at night. Her childhood revolved around practice, and not of her own choosing. When she became the youngest U.S. champion at 13, and defended her title the following year, it only upped the ante among those who saw her following in the footsteps of Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski.
Liu was trying to fit the mold that everyone wanted for her.
So, she quit. Walked away. Abruptly decided to retire after the Beijing Games, leaving all of that mental strain behind her.
For two years, Liu did what she wanted, which had little to do with skating. She went on backpacking trips with friends and began studying psychology at UCLA. She got the frenulum piercing that shows across her front teeth when she smiles. In short, she became her own person, one whose individualism has made her a hero to the alt, emo and punk crowd.
She broke just about every mold for a figure skater.
“I love that Alysa is showing the entire world, and especially our skating world, that there is more than one way to win," said Johnny Weir, the two-time Olympian, who along with Lipinski called her free skate for NBC on Thursday night.
Indeed, when Liu launched a comeback two years ago, she did it her way. She would only spend as much time at the practice rink as she wanted. She would be involved in every decision when it came to designing her programs. She even had a say in her dresses, with her favorite being the glittering gold ensemble that fit the moment so perfectly Thursday night.
“Honestly, it was more than just work, it was experience,” Liu said. "The last time I was skating, it was so rough. I genuinely can’t begin to start on it. It took a lot to get to this point, and studying psychology has really helped. I love psychology.
“All I want in my life is human connection and, damn, now I am connected with a hell of a ton of people.”
That includes women like Tenley Albright, who won Olympic gold at the 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Games, and was watching from the crowd on Thursday night. And other U.S. champions, such as Carol Heiss, Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill.
But it's more than that.
It's a connection to everyone who has walked away from something and found their way back. Who cut ties with something they once loved so that they could learn to love it again. And who had to go searching far and wide to discover who they really are.
“I have no idea how I am going to deal with it. I’ll probably wear some wigs when I go outside,” Liu said, when asked how she plans to handle her sudden fame. “I hope with all this attention I can raise awareness about mental health in sports, and mental health more generally. I think my story is very cool. Hopefully, I can inspire some people.”
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women's figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women's figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women's figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
From left to right, silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States, and bronze medalist Ami Nakai of Japan, jump on the podium to receive their medals after competing in the women's free skate program in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States displays her medal after competing in the women's free skate program in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women's figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Alysa Liu of the United States reacts to her score after competing in the women's figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
