The Pilot News - Top 10 seniors honor teachers

Hosted at the Pretty Lake United Methodist Church reception hall and catered by the church, the event allowed the school’s top ten graduating seniors an opportunity to laud the teachers who most influenced their academic career, and teachers the chance to reciprocate in kind.
Perhaps the most unusual – and to audience members, delightful – aspects of the evening’s events was the “virtual” presence of longtime CCHS French teacher Vickie Dearth, by way of a prerecorded video shown via projector to the audience. Dearth, whom Hanselman said had undergone successful heart surgery the day before the banquet, spent much of the past school year in and out of the hospital recovering from a near-fatal bacterial infection. That didn’t stop senior Justin Master from choosing Dearth as his honored teacher, explaining Dearth pushed him to be a leader and inspiring him to do his very best.
Master also called Dearth his “adopted aunt,” a status she explained in her video presentation as deriving from Master and fellow student Stephen Vantwoud visiting her in the hospital to ask for a letter of recommendation. When staff told the boys they had to be relatives to see her, Master rather quickly became Dearth’s “nephew.”
“Every time I thought about going to sleep (while in the hospital) and not waking up, I thought, ‘No, you have to write that letter for Justin!’” quipped Dearth, who praised Master for taking on CCHS’ French Club’s involvement in last year’s Relay for Life when club president Angelica Bush couldn’t be there.
“You have to realize, when I first met Justin, he was a lost soul with no personality, no direction, and no ambition,” joked Dearth to a roomful of laughter. “He was headed for definite disaster. Then he took French. I single handedly molded him into the intelligent, motivated young man you see today.”
Hanselman noted Dearth has been chosen by students over the years to be honored “more times than I can count…almost every year.”
Another once-familiar face absent in recent times to CCHS students was senior Brittany Collins’ chosen honoree, veteran science teacher Bill King, who retired a few years back but was on hand to accept the award, which he said was “a wonderful surprise.”
Collins said King’s eighth grade class greeted her with “a hippie, long-haired teacher with a grand smile,” numerous learning opportunities, and “a few life lessons, too.”
Collins said King chose to “drive a beat-up van to school, not because he couldn’t afford better, but because it got him where he needed to go. He wore shoes with holes in them, not to ventilate his feet but because they did what he needed them to do…I have learned from Mr. King that we all must remember to slow down (and) enjoy life.”
King noted Collins father had been ill during her time in his class, requiring her to babysit in addition to a car wreck and “boyfriend troubles…I commend her for being mature beyond her age.
“One (phrase) I talked about in classes many times over the years is common sense. Brittany had an exceptional amount of common sense in eighth grade I’m proud to say she’s built upon that strength.”
Spanish teacher Chris Stevens was honored by senior Kimberly Irsa, who described him as a mentor and friend in addition to being her teacher. She said she was given “honest and true” advice by Stevens, who also discussed with her the importance of success and “told me I could do anything if I set my mind to it.”
Stevens said Irsa faced high school’s pressures “with the reasoning skills of an adult. She always went above and beyond. She’s an absolute asset to our school and community.”
He also noted Irsa is taking a First Responders course. “I know what I was doing at 18 years old,” joked Stevens. “And I know some of you know what I was doing then, and I appreciate your silence!”
Senior Christina Klausing told the audience she’s been in CCHS’ Marybeth Harness’ art class since seventh grade, who she said “has always taken teaching seriously. You are a fantastic teacher with some of the best talent I have known. I hope to make you proud of me.”
For her part, Harness said Klausing “lights up the classroom…she always has good things to say about all the students’ (art) projects. She’s very positive. She just spreads happiness all around the classroom.”
For the second year in a row, English teacher Vickie Benner was honored by a top ten senior, this time Kalie Thompson, who delivered an emotional tribute to her “favorite teacher ever.”
“She wants students to do their best, and she works harder than any teacher I’ve ever known,” said Thompson. “She’s taught me a lot about both school and life.”
Benner told the audience she had playground duty as a new teacher more than 30 years ago with Thompson’s grandmother. Benner praised Thompson’s commitment to the school newspaper and offered her several “tips for life,” concluding with, “Be happy, enjoy your journey, and don’t forget to keep in touch with your old English teacher!”
Honored by student Shannon Dunfee was another veteran teacher, math instructor John Browder, whom she praised for his advice and mentorship in spite of being initially intimidated by him (“He likes to yell a lot!”) upon entering his class in seventh grade.
Browder lauded Dunfee’s ability to “fix it” as his teaching assistant, whenever he has a computer problem. “We’ve developed a friendship over these many years,” he added. “She will be successful…and will be a person I’ll be proud to call my friend.”
Chemistry teacher Theresa Hammond was described by graduating senior Elizabeth Wojdyla as an object of respect “for her and her noble profession,” Wojdyla praising Hammond’s teaching style and review games to aid with learning. Hammond said she saw a new side of Wojdyla when the student began mentoring CCHS freshman, proving herself “a real leader out of the classroom…in the classroom, she is studious and focused.”
Whitney Banfield said she was lucky to have the honor of meeting the “real” Tina Stacy when she worked under the English teacher on the school’s yearbook, where the relaxed and friendly atmosphere combined with good advice from Stacy from family and friends to school.
The student, said Stacy, also inspired the teacher in Banfield’s case. “If she could be multiplied 30 times and fill a room,” smiled Stacy, “I could die a happy woman!
“To me the most impressive thing about her is, she is independent. I see students quickly get lost in their peers. But she made decisions based on herself and her goals.”
Math teacher Mike Buschman reciprocated senior Tony Leyva’s praise, noting Leyva suffered through the death of his mother while under Buschman’s tutelage, which included football coaching as well as teaching. “One of the things most impressive (about Leyva and his brother) is, they took time to grieve, they took the sympathy of others, but when it was time, they got right back to work. Most kids either put on the total tough guy act or shut down and lose it the rest of the year. But (the Leyvas) handled it as best they could. They never used it as any excuse.”
Commenting on Leyva’s football skills and sense of humor, Buschman called Leyva “an outstanding young man.”
Leyva said Buschman taught him the fundamentals of football, describing him as “my teacher, math guru, and wise guy comedian. He creates a classroom atmosphere that’s both fun and laid back.”
Rounding out the evening was class valedictorian and recent Lilly scholarship recipient Myles Pinder, who chose science teacher Bob Konzelman – another winner the second year in a row – to honor for challenging him and teaching him “how to be a successful and free thinker” through unorthodox but effective teaching methods.
Konzelman referred the audience to Pinder’s plethora of accomplishments and activities, describing him as a serious student always willing to help others. He jokingly referred to Pinder’s improvement on a methodical approach that often took too long. “Since I knew he wanted to be a doctor, my reply was always, ‘The patient’s going to die on the operating table!’ He has improved tremendously. When he becomes a physician and walks into the room, you don’t need to run.
“I truly believe Myles is destined for great things,” he added.
Hanselman rounded out the evening with praise for all the teachers. “When I introduce myself to people and tell them I’m a principal at Culver Community High School, I puff my chest out. You understand why I’m so proud of these students.”