VWHS seniors honor favorite teachers

VW independent/submitted information

On Monday, 10 seniors at Van Wert High School had the opportunity to tell their favorite teachers just how much they impacted their lives during the 2016 Van Wert City Schools Teacher Endowment Banquet, held at Willow Bend Country Club.

The 10 students include five seniors with the top grade point average in the class, along with five other students selected by the committee that oversees the event.

Emcee Wally Grimm opened the event by welcoming those in attendance and later introduced the participating seniors for this year. Students this year (and their favorite teachers) include Hayley Klausing (Mike Ragan), Kiara Lamb (Laura Etter), Chris Kraner (Anita Zuber), Dominique Grothause (Kathleen Overmyer), Cade Fleming (Betty Holliday), Shianne Baldwin (Kelly VanHorn), Jacob Covey (Chris Covey), Drew Myers (Tricia Hughes), Sandy Nguyen (Julia Reichert), and Katie Trittschuh (Bob Priest).

Event founder Randy Gardner, whose idea for the banquet arose from the impact three teachers — Ralph Gallapoo (his grandfather), Glenn Livingston, and Gil Smith — had on his own life, introduced the five selected students.

Those students then read a letter to the teacher “who made a difference” in their lives. Hayley Klausing told retired teacher Mike Ragan that she learned “how being kind can start a chain-reaction with others,” while Cade Fleming told teacher Betty Holliday that “in my room, a piece of paper hangs above my bed reading ‘Coach Believes in Me, I Believe in Me’.”

After the five selected students read their letters, VWHS Principal Bob Priest introduced the five top students of the Class of 2016, who read their letters to teachers who have impacted their lives.

Jacob Covey wrote his to his father, Chris, noting: “I have always tried to model myself after you, as you are one of the all-around best people I know.”

Sandy Nguyen told favorite teacher Julia Reichert: “Without you, I would not have found the courage to audition for a solo. … Not only did you direct me musically, you showed me what confidence, hard work, and patience looks like.”

The evening ended with Superintendent Ken Amstutz recognizing high school guidance counselor Connie Ainsworth, the lone retiree for this school year, for her 40 years of service in education.