Lexi Mohr: Nominated by English Teacher Diane Guth
Lexi works especially hard in class and is patient and helpful with other students. She desires to move into an honors level yet has asked in a polite way what she can do to perhaps be moved up. She shows consistent leadership in class, responds actively and turns in thoughtful responses above and beyond what’s required. She’s a wonderful student to have in class and I believe an asset to the school and good friend to those around her.
Gavin O’Dell: Nominated by Science Teacher Lori Clark and Support Services teacher Rhonda Ehrecke
Every teacher that has Gavin will tell you what a leader he is, how personable he is, and how likeable and engaging he is. Gavin demonstrates leadership of and compassion toward his fellow classmates every hour of every day. Gavin is friends with absolutely everyone he meets, both students and staff. He reaches out to and includes everyone. He notices when someone is having a bad day or a rough time and he always says something to them to try to make it better. Gavin’s exceptional gift is his ability to look out for and protect those who need it most. If there is a student who cannot fit in with anyone else, Gavin will offer to sit by that student. He will offer to have that student in his group. He will help redirect that student when he is doing something he should not be doing. He will reach out to a student who is having a total meltdown and he will help that student work through his issues. Most importantly, he will treat that student just like he treats everyone else and he will make that person feel liked and valued. He is one of those rare people that can brighten everyone’s day and lift everyone’s mood, even at their worst moment.
Anna Taylor: Nominated by Math Teacher Dan Ryan
I didn’t nominate Anna because she’s the best mathematician or the best exam-taker. No. While she’s darn good at both, Anna would be quick to tell you we have better in our school. Anna is, however, otherworldly special in otherwordly special in other capacities, and that’s why I’m nominating her.
First, she’s a selfless, introspective question-asker. Selfless because Anna is willing to ask a question when a classmate might not. Her questions aren’t even confined by the bell. Many night-and by many, I’d guess twice a week on average-I’ll get an email from Anna asking to tackle some homework problem or another. From a teacher’s perspective, this relentless desire understand bleeds into the second thing I’d like to celebrate.
There’s a determination inside of Anna, a resolve which lies far below her gentle, soft spoken surface. Which explains why some people may not see it. I get it-you look at Anna and you probably aren’t thinking, “tenacious.” But this year, I’ve watched as Anna has earned a master’s degree in the art of picking herself up, dusting herself off, and getting right back after it. I’ll tell a story which captures what I love about Anna.
In late February, one afternoon, Anna had come in with a math question and she began conveying frustration and self-doubt because she wasn’t achieving like some of her classmates. I invited Anna to consider that she’s already taken care of the most important things in her life: her approach, how she invests in other people, etc. That it’s more about the journey and the process than any outcome. I sensed a reluctance on her face, anna’s wordless way of saying, “Yeah, but…” So I suggested that even though Anna wasn’t emotionally ready to embrace these truths about herself, that didn’t mean they weren’t true.
The next night, I was grading 1st hour’s homework when I came across Anna’s paper. At the top she’d written, “It’s about the process, not the outcomes. I’m going to keep writing this until I own this belief for myself.”
Josh Eckberg: Nominated by PE teacher Kristin Allen
I have had the pleasure of having Josh sign-up for the last two units that I have taught, and I am proud to admit that my colleagues are jealous. They are jealous because Josh has the uncanny ability to make anything that he is a part of better. Josh makes a point to find fellow students who may need extra encouragement, extra help with certain physical skills during an activity or just need a small dose of laughter because of a bad day. When he finds these students he gives them 100% of his attention and commits to the job of making their experience during the game/activity better. The most fascinating things about all of this is that Josh does this without being asked to.
There are a multitude of specific examples of why I nominated Josh for this award. One example that is fresh in my mind occured a couple of weeks ago. Joash participated in a new unit that I introduced called Drum Fit. This unit incorporated fitness exercises with dance while drumming on an exercise ball. He was one of the three males that signed up for this unit, and I’m pretty sure the other two did so because Josh convinced them to. On the first day of the unit Josh yelled to the class “I am so pumped for Drum Fit!” The entire class smiled, laughed, and visibly relaxed. Every day of the unit Josh complemented another student on their rhythm, dance moves and energy level. Little did he know that those students were following his lead. Even though I was the one up front leading the class during the routines, I fed off Josh’s energy. He even made falling off the exercise ball look cool, which he did do twice.
Josh is now in my Team Activities unit. During the first day of the unit he immediately began helping a student who needed extra help during the game due to physical impairments. After he assisted that student in winning the game, I watched Josh give the most energetic high five to that students and coincidentally the most amazing smile appeared on their face. This type of kindness is displayed on such a natural level with Josh and so consistently that I don’t know if he even realizes his effect on his peers. At the end of a Capture the Flag game, that became a little too competitive with a few students, I addressed the entire class about the importance of displaying good sportsmanship skills. I could tell that some of the students were still a little upset and apparently so could Josh because he immediately yelled, “Everyone bring it in and yell Team Activities on 3”. The entire class put their hands in a circle, Josh and his uplifting smile in the center, and all yelled “Team Activities”. Just like that the entire environment shifted to something I can only describe as contagiously positive.
One of my favorite quotes about the meaning of being a true leader is “Leadership should be humble, and authentic expression of your unique personality in pursuit of bettering whatever environment you are in.”
Josh Eckberg is a true leader. This is why he is a champion at Mahomet-Seymour High School.
Lauren Taylor: Nominated by Support Services teacher Rhonda Ehrecke and Social Worker Erin Graham
Lauren Taylor possesses many qualities that make her a great student and person. She works hard both at school and in her extracurricular activities. She is polite, respectful and helpful. She is always willing to lend a helping hand. She continues to persevere; when she doesn’t understand a concept, she works to understand it, often seeking help from her teachers. These qualities will all lead her success later in life.
However, it is Lauren’s willingness to accept people for who they are being open to new relationships that I believe make her a true champion. Laurent exhibits these qualities on a daily basis, but I would like to highlight her relationship with one particular student that, I believe, demonstrates her true character. Lauren met “D” was a sophomore. He had no friends, mostly because other students and staff were intimidated by his demeanor. He didn’t eat lunch, typically avoiding the lunch room by walking the halls for the thirty-minute lunch period.
Because Lauren is not afraid or intimidated by students who are different than her, she began to interact with “D”. By Lauren’s sophomore year, “D” was sitting with her and one of her friends during their lunch period. They began to develop a friendship.
Lauren started talking to “D” outside of lunch, even exchanging phone numbers. When he wasn’t at school, she would text him to see where he was. When he didn’t get back to her, she was genuinely concerned for him. “D” went from just sitting with them at lunch to actually eating with them. By Lauren’s junior year, the friendship had solidified.
Lauren is now one of “D’s” biggest cheerleaders. She encourages him to do well in school and calls him out when he needs to be. She advocates for him and stands by his side when he is standing up for himself.
Lauren didn’t take “D” on as a project. She isn’t his friend because she pities him. She was simply open to being his friend and, within that, a friendship developed. Lauren also has no idea of the impact she has had on “D”. For the first time since I have known him, “D” has someone to eat lunch with, someone to cheer him on but also to put him in his place. He has someone to text when he’s bored and someone to give him advice about his girlfriend. He will graduate high school with one true friend.
The unique thing about Lauren is I have watched her do this time and time again. Not just with “D” but with any other student in the building that she comes in contact with. It doesn’t occur to Lauren to be exclusive of a student or to be intentionally mean to someone, she just doesn’t have that in her. Instead, she meets each person where they are at and accepts them exactly as they are. And then she asks “how can I be a friend to them?” and she does it. That makes Lauren a true champion.
Jimmy Ehlschlaeger: Nominated by Carrie East, Nathan Seal, Rhonda Starkey and Jackie Risley
It is our pleasure to nominate Jimmy Ehlschlaeger for Breakfast of Champions because of his work ethic, positive attitude and his ability to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
We have each had Jimmy as a student for at least one year/class and we all feel the same way. Jimmy is a hard-working individual and puts in a great deal of time and effort to be sure he understands the material. He is less concerned with his overall grade than he is with making sure he completes the assignments to the best of his ability. He has a strong work ethic and he has developed quite a system to keep himself organized and on top of each assignment. Even during semester finals, Jimmy is devoted to taking the tests and doing his best even when he has been testing all day for several days in a row.
We also appreciate Jimmy’s positive attitude. He participates and provides valuable input to lectures and group work each day. When the workload gets heavier, Jimmy works harder. When the assignments get larger, Jimmy works longer, all without complaining or faltering. He just keeps moving forward with a smile on his face. He is also very responsible and communicates with teachers when he is ill or knows he will be absent. He often asks if he can start assignments early so he can be sure to have enough time to complete the assignments and also participate in outside activities.
Undoubtedly one of our favorite attributes about Jimmy is his personality. This young man works hard every minute of every day but he doesn’t let that wear him down. He has an unbelievable personality and makes everyone smile. We love the jokes he shares with class. Even when he is absent, he emails jokes so everyone starts their day with some laughter. He is also the most polite and respectful young man to his teachers and his peers. He doesn’t leave the room without a “Have a nice day” or “Have a good weekend” or simply a “Thank you for the help.” We can always count on him to provide some joy in our day.
We appreciate having Jimmy in class every day. We see this young man work incredibly hard, never complain, and at the end of the day, thank us for helping him.
Blake Lester: Nominated by Chad Benedict
It has been my pleasure to watch Blake grow and mature into the fine young man that he is today. My main reason for nominating Blake is how he treats others in our school. I have been impressed with Blake because his relationships with his fellow students knows no walls. He treats everyone with the same respect. I have witnessed this in the classroom and in sports. Blake cares for everyone the same and will do kind things for people. In my fitness PE class, Blake will help others regardless of their age and sets a great example for those around him.
In sports, I have seen Blake take the time to invest in all the participants, whether they are the best player or a player that doesn’t play much, Blake treats them all with respect and leads the way on what it is like to be a great teammate. Blake is not a person of many words, but his actions speak way louder than his words.
While this sounds like a simple thing (treating others with respect), it can be very hard for high school students to do this on a consistent basis. Not only has Blake done this his senior year, he has been the model of consistency in this area for his high school career. We have a saying with our players- “We want to make what is right, cool.” Blake Lester lives these words on a daily basis when working with his fellow students. It is a pleasure to know that we have young men like Blake Lester leaving Mahomet-Seymour that will take one of the most simplest acts you can do for someone out into the world to make it a better place.
