Great Kids and Great Teacher Awards

On Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at the SCERA Center for the Arts, the Great Kids awards were presented to two seventh-grade students, a boy and a girl, from each school in Utah County.  The Utah County Chamber of Commerce honored individuals who make a difference in the world by simply being kind, respectful, responsible, and outstanding in quiet ways, usually overlooked by others.  Many of the award-winning kids have been selected because they are friendly, helpful, and always looking out for their classmates.  This is the first year that the Chamber is giving Great Teachers awards.  They are giving the Great Teachers awards in recognition of teachers who are powerful, and effective, and teachers who have a great impact on their students lives.

The two seventh-grade students recognized from Springville Junior High were Ryker Jenkins and Lizzy Smith.  Those two students were nominated by Mr. Van Ausdal, principal at SJHS, and Mrs. Droz, the seventh-grade counselor at SJHS.  According to Lizzy, she wasn’t even aware that she was receiving the award until she was already at the SCERA Center.  Lizzy said, “I didn’t know anything about it, so it was a big shocker when my dad told me to go up on the stage.”  A pamphlet was provided by the Utah County Chamber of Commerce describing what the award is and what the students and teacher received the awards for.  Lizzy’s bio in the pamphlet said, “Elizabeth Smith is one of the bravest students we know.  Elizabeth can be counted on to fulfill her school responsibilities with a smile.”  According to the pamphlet, Lizzy embodies all that this award reflects and is truly a “Great Kid”!  Ryker’s bio said, “He is one of the kindest students we know, he is willing to help anyone at anytime.”  Ryker represents the value the Great Kid Award seeks to honor.  This opinion in universally held by the students and faculty at Springville Junior High.  “I was proud of myself for being chosen, when there was like 300 other sevies that they could have chosen, but they chose me.  It was a once in a life opportunity; I’m honored,” said Ryker.

Ms. Neeley, a seventh-grade English teacher at SHJS, received the Great Teacher Award for Utah County this year.  “Ms. Neeley really cares about her students and cares about their education,” said Ms. Dunn, a seventh- and ninth-grade English teacher at SJHS.  Ms. Neeley’s bio in the pamphlet, said, “Ms. Neeley loves teaching and being around her students.”  Ms. Neeley is currently working on a Master of Arts in Teacher Education at Brigham Young University.  Mrs. Gleave, a Secondary Math I teacher, said, “Ms. Neeley lets the students take accountability for what they learn.  She provides a wonderfully rich environment where questions are encouraged and answered.”

According to Ryker Jenkins, a guest speaker named Porter Ellett came to the ceremony.  Ryker said, “He was an athlete, and he only had one arm, and he was really good at baseball, basketball, and track.”  According to Ryker, Cosmo the Cougar, the BYU mascot, came and did some things, then the awards were presented.  Ryker said, “I felt nervous when I first got there of course, and afraid that I didn’t know anyone.  But it turns out one of my good friends from Mapleton got the award too, so I felt pretty happy after that.”