From today people across Cumbria have the chance to vote for their education and learning heroes.

For the first time Cumbria's Golden Apple Awards has a People's Choice category.

Here we introduce the five finalists from around the county who are in line for the People's Choice Award.

The public can vote for their winner by casting a vote here on Newsquest Cumbria websites of The Mail, The News and Star, The Cumberland News, The Whitehaven News and The Times and Star.

Voting opens at 5pm today and closes at 5pm on Friday September 28 .

The winner will be announced at The Golden Apple Awards 2018 ceremony at Carlisle Racecourse on Friday October 5.

The Golden Apple Awards are run by Newsquest Cumbria and held in associate partnership with University of Cumbria and Centre of Nuclear Excellence.

Your finalists in the People's Choice category are:

ALAN GILLON - Learning and engagement officer at The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven

ALAN'S vision is to transform the Beacon Museum into a leading local, national and international museum for learning and discovery about all aspects of history, science and cultural heritage.

His inspirational qualities to work with wider audiences through educational partners, non user groups, schools, the museum collections and learning resources has created pathways for more engagement and participation at all levels.

Alan has created accessible programming and audience-building initiatives, and he endeavours to enrich people's understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the Beacon Museum's collections, displays and themes in imaginative ways geared to a range of different learning styles.

His work with the National Maritime Museum highlighted his commitment to enable access for all and to bring national objects to West Cumbria for everyone to engage with. The impact of learning outside the classroom for local schools has had a huge significance. Alan value's teachers and children not only as individual learners but also as advocates for the museum, many children who visit with their school return with their siblings and their parents.

His learning sessions are highly interactive and generate meaningful dialogue with adult learners, the class teacher, and among a class. New concepts are introduced through multi-sensory learning.

Alan has a desire to be genuinely inclusive and forge's relationships and partnerships with local people and organisations. In essence, all Alan's learning, engagement and participation has the local community at heart.

KATE HODGSON - Play, learning and childcare practitioner at Barnardo's Children's Centre, Carlisle

Kate is a dedicated early years apprentice who works extremely hard to bring her local community together through her rewarding work with children and families.

She supports families through her role as a play learning and childcare practitioner at Barnardo's Children's Centre, in Carlisle.

Kate has been working towards an early years educator apprenticeship since April 2017.

The 30-year-old completes her training through RWP Training in the city. The committed apprentice is described as a valued member of her team and she has been praised for the way she runs a number of sessions on behalf of Barnardo's to help pull the local community together.

Miss Hodgson's proud assessors say she works consistently ahead of her targets while also juggling caring for her young daughter, her job and her coursework.

The model apprentice is heavily involved with supporting local parents and children through engaging activities which are recognised as making a positive contribution to her community.

Kate is building a great knowledge of the sector and goes above and beyond to assist the families she works with.

She is also a star student in the classroom as well as in the practical setting. Kate contributes extremely well in class when attending RWP Training. She shares best practises very well and also offers lots of support to her peers.

LITTLE LAMBS NURSERY - St Pius X Catholic Primary School, in Barrow.

Little Lambs Nursery is an exciting new nursery with big goals for its pupils.

St Pius X Catholic Primary School, in Barrow, opened its nursery facility in September last year to support and meet the needs of local families in the area.

The Schneider Road school refurbished a former IT room to create an exciting nursery facility for three-year-olds.

Little Lambs, which uses the motto 'The Lord is My Shepherd' from the bible, is full.

The nursery has been very well received by parents and the community. Parents are delighted and astonished by the progress their children have made since starting at Little Lambs.

The popular nursery is led by two very enthusiastic and child-centred staff. The nursery pupils often visit Reception Class to ensure there is a strong transition for the children.

Little Lambs regularly involves parents in activities and provides the children with real life experiences.

There are many exciting sessions and outdoor learning opportunities.

The nursery believes in children learning through play and ensures they are ready and confident to start school.

The team are extremely proud of their happy pupils and how much has been achieved in a short space of time. They say the future is very bright as the facility goes from strength to strength.

CALLUM SLATER and JACOB MCSWEENEY - Furness College Students' Union

CALLUM and JACOB are two exceptional students who were instrumental in setting up Furness College Students' Union.

The two former Barrow Sixth Form College students established the SU to represent learners across the merged Furness College's Rating Lane and Channelside campuses.

The college now has a new group of students to carry on the great work started by Callum, the ex SU president and Jacob, the ex marketing vice-president.

They ran campaigns, invited in local welfare organisations to provide support and advice to students, and organised events for good causes and to invest into the SU.

They welcomed The National Union of Students' vice president (Further Education), Emily Chapman, to Furness College and she said the SU "well on the way to being incredible."

Callum addressed NUS National Conference 2018 and pledged to amplify the voices of Further Education learners.

Both remained committed to their A Level studies. Callum received an offer to study French and linguistics at St Catherine's College, Oxford University, but he deferred his university entry until September 2019 to stay at Furness College to take up a role as a Students' Union student liaison officer.

Jacob has taken up his offer to study medicine at Lancaster University.

Thanks to Callum and Jacob's passion, hard work and dedication, students will have their voice heard and be represented on a wide range of key issues for years to come.

RACHEL ESPOSITO - Primary Programme Lead (School Direct), Kendal

Rachel is dedicated and committed to nurturing her students to become outstanding new teachers.

Her PGCE students often say "everyone needs a Rachel" and they described her as "truly inspirational".

The kind, committed and exceptionally hardworking School Direct leader ensures all of her students are supported, even outside of 'office hours' - assisting students over the Christmas period if required.

Rachel is credited with making the training year an enriching experience due to her wealth of knowledge and strong partnerships in teaching and learning.

The fantastic learning leader actively encourages and inspires her students, going above and beyond on a daily basis to ensure they are learning and are happy in their placements.

The students refer to her as their second mother. She cares for everyone and strives everyday to ensure they receive the best training.

She is praised for her outstanding organisational skills, courteous and friendly manner, inspirational advice, caring nature and her constant reassurance and encouragement.

One student said: "We, as a cohort, would not be as strong as we are now if it wasn't for her ability to bring everyone together as a team.

"We not only want to do well for ourselves, but we also want to make Rachel proud."