001Hello, good afternoon or good evening depending on which side of the five o'clock you fall with that. Uh, welcome to the Beaver Dam Unified School District 2025 Wall of Fame Awards Ceremony. My name is Craig Warbold. I am honored to serve as your MC again today. Had the privilege of doing this uh many years out of uh the the past 20 or so since 2007. It's something I look forward to every year. In fact, I'm surprised anytime they invite me back. I've been connected to the school district in a variety of capacities over the years. Personally, my kids uh both went through the Beaver Dam school system, so I've seen firsthand the positive impact the district has had on students, on families, and on the community. Personally, I I spent years covering the the school
002board, school related matters. That gave me a front row seat to the very people who are keeping things moving. People who are in this room today. Positive impact doesn't happen by accident. Positive impact comes from people people who step up often behind the scenes and give their time, their energy to a community. Talking about the good people who work in the Beaver Dam School District. And I'm also talking about the good people who serve on the Beaver Dam School Board. The work of the school board in particular helps shape not just policy, but the day-to-day experience that teachers, students, and families experience across the district. We have several current members of the Beaver Dam School Board with us here today. If you are here, please stand and be recognized as I call your name. Isaac
003Dornfeld. Not yet, Marge. Marge Jorgensson, Mary Coons, excuse me, Mary. I don't think Isaac got a round of applause, did he? Just looking out for you, Isaac. Heather Scholes. Is Heather here? Lisa Panzer? And our newest member of the Beaver Dam School Board, Emily Shy. We also have someone with us tonight who spent many, many years serving on the Beaver Dam School Board, Gary Spielman, who will be recognized as a friend of education later in the program. I spent many hours in the same meeting rooms with Gary, and I can tell you, no matter how long the meeting ran, he was always steady, thoughtful, and ready to keep things moving, even when the rest of us were looking at the clock. Another friend of education being recognized today is the Beaverdam Area Community Theater. The
004theater's long list of productions and volunteers serves as a great example of the broader role that Beact has played in enriching the community over the years. The Beaver Dam area community theater provides opportunities for people to get involved, to connect, and to be part of something bigger. And if you've ever been involved, you know how the organized chaos always comes together right on time, usually. And this year's outstanding alumni is none other than Russ Katkkey. I covered Russ as a news reporter when he served as chairman of the the Dodge County Board for a decade or more. I think it was 18 years if I'm not mistaken. A leader in both agriculture and local government, he has long understood that strong communities are built through local leadership and public service. Russ Kaki will be joining
005the ranks of several other outstanding alumni going back to the wall of fame's first ever inductee, film legend Fred McMurray, a graduate of the Beaver Dam High School. Fred was someone who really looked up to Russ. Both Russ and Gary set the bar high in their respective roles and were particularly welcoming to me from day one, which is especially noteworthy considering that I'm a flatlander. comm community the the community theater also very welcoming to people from all walks of life and even Illinois. It is only fitting that the wall of fame recognizes all of their efforts alongside the great work of so many other alumni and friends of education from throughout the years. It is contributions like these that bring us to the people who have helped shape this community over time. I would like
006to take a moment to welcome past wall of fame honores who are with us today. If you're here this afternoon, please stand and be recognized as I call your name. Sorry, March Bev be Dr. Ellen Hehart, Jim Flynn, Tom Hefron from the local Alpha Z chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society. Barb link Barb local historian Roger Null and that camps couldn't make it here today but I know she's with us here in spirit. If I missed anyone please stand so that we could recognize you. All right, looks like I got everyone. Thank you all alumni and friends for your contributions to this community. Tonight is about recognizing the impact that people and organizations like these have on a community and its schools. Now we'll begin this year's friend of education presentations. Please join me
007in welcoming the presenters for this year's friend of education award, Marge Jorgensson and Bev Bele. Good evening. It's nice to see all your smiling faces. Although, I have to say, I'm usually not on this side with the light shining in my eyes. So, there's a little shadow, but you all look really great. Appreciate you coming. Having having been in this spot before, I'm thinking Gary's feeling a little bit how I felt. I don't want to be up here. Um, but you deserve to be up here, Gary. Um, I Gary already had been on the board when I came on the board and I think if Gary had had an opportunity, but I think Gary was destined to follow in the family business. Don't quote me on that. His family knows that better than I do.
008Um, but I think he would have been an educator. Um, he was a very great board member to um, mentor me in my first few years. Um, actually he probably still mentored me in my last few years. Um, but just as as Craig alluded to, just always very steady, always listening. Um, and had when he had things to say, you listen to him. Like I said, he might have been a teacher himself, but the family business called um, he did have a couple of sons who decided education was going to be their field, and I'm pretty sure they're all they're both very successful in their field. Um, I know Gary spends a lot of time attending not only board meetings but sports and in that's one way sports and other activities, plays and other co-curriculars
009and that's a great way to get to know other students. Um, of course we all do that when our children are in high school but I think Gary has shown that he does it whether his kids are in high school or not and now he's got another generation of kids to follow in his grandchildren. um his tenure while serving on the school board. Um Mary or Mark can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's one of the longest, if not the longest. Um 33 years is a lot of time to commit to going to board meetings, committee meetings, reading all the material that you get so that you're prepared for those meetings um along with the rest of your life that's happening. That is a a huge amount of time to give. And
010I think what makes Gary stand out even more is uh Gary Bob Newman and I were on the same three-year cycle. And there was an election year where Bob and Gary lost and I was the one who won. For most people, that would be it. Okay, he'd already had many years on the end of my board career, but I don't know for sure, Gary, if it was a year or two later, there was an opportunity and Gary was encouraged and he he ran again and he won. So, I think I can claim longer years continuously than Gary, but not most years, just because of that one or two year break. Um, and it didn't stop him from staying involved. No, he maybe didn't show up at the meetings, but he followed the meetings and paid
011attention and still was out and about and talked to people. Um, to me, that just tells you the determination and the dedication he has for education and the students of our community. And because Marge and I were both nominators, unbeknownst to one another, and we wrote very similar things, I'm going to let her round this all out with her intel. >> Bev's right. We both had the same idea when it came to nominating somebody for Friends of Education. Gary, it just made sense. So, we followed through and did it. And here he is. And here both of us are. So, you know, Gary kind of dedicates decades. He's had decades of quiet leadership. That's He's never been real loud and kind of bossy like some people say I am. But anyway, um he's had this
012quiet leadership and he's volunteered for over 10 years, I know, doing different work with students in the classroom and he has uh as well as in the boardroom. he's been a helped and an example for future educators on what to do, how to highlight uh things and uh the impact that it has on the school district, on the kids that he works with, and actually the whole community. So, after Bev and I realized that we both had nominated Gary, we said it was the right thing to do. So, thank you, Gary. >> Congrats, Gary. >> Thank you, That's That's your cue. Uh Gary, on behalf of the Hall of Fame committee and the Beaver Dam Unified School District, it's my honor to present you with this year's Friend of Education Award. Um, and I think
013you heard from Bev and Marge all the different examples of why Gary um, is a friend of education and why he should be recognized. Um, but I just want to emphasize how good of a friend you've been and how direct you are and how honest you are and um, you really are a champion for our kids and our community and we need that and we thank you. So, this is an honor for us to to give this to you and we hope that you'll accept it gladly. >> Thank you. Uh my involvement with the school district started about 40 years ago when Dick Fitzpatrick asked me to be on the high school scholarship committee, which I did for about 10 years. About five years into that, uh was the opening of the board when Alan
014Proctor was retiring. So I put my name in and there were five candidates at the time and I was fortunate to be elected. In the 30 years that followed, I worked with six different superintendent and we've had some very good superintendent and we've had a couple outstanding superintendent. Mark uh I worked with numerous school board members and lots of teachers and administrators. And the reason I believe Bernam is such a good school district is that the board, the teachers, administration all work together for a common goal and doing what's right for students, what's good for students. I think that's been shown by the support we've received from the community in passing the referendums, especially the most recent one of building a muchneeded new middle school. However, my most exciting or whatever part of education started
01510 years ago when I was asked and I maybe I should say pressured into volunteering to be a volunteer in the classroom. And I was asked why don't you volunteer? Well, I had recently retired and I said, "Okay, I'll do one day a week for one hour, no more than that. And if you can find a teacher that'll accept me." Well, not many teachers wanted a school board member in their classroom, but Lorie Schwagger accept Get choked up here. Lorie Schwagger accepted me and uh for 10 years I've been with her. Um my one day a week for one hour turned into two days, three days, and now sometimes I go four days a week whenever I'm available. Lori is just an amazing teacher. She's so good with the young kids and she's also good
016with the old senior citizens. She's taught me a lot. Uh it's interesting for me when beginning of the school year when kids come to school for the very first day. Many of them have never been in a classroom before. Some of them have never been away from their mother before. And to watch them as they grow. Some of them when they get there they can't write or excuse me can't write their own names. They can't count. They don't know what the alphabet is. But to watch them grow during the year is just amazing. Uh, working with four and five year olds is both entertaining and interesting. They're honest and they say anything and they say everything and some of the things you don't want to hear. They're also very giving and in fact this past
017year one gave me the red pink eye virus. So I was out for a few days. But uh for me it's just been so exciting and very rewarding to be able to work with the students and be part of their lives. And I thank Lori for the past 10 years and uh all the teachers and staff at Prairview. Hopefully I can be back for a couple more years. And I thank my wife and our two sons who are both administrators in different districts. Education is very important to our family. And I thank the grand grandkids for showing up tonight. Thank you. Wow, thank you so much, Gary. Certainly an inspiration to consider giving some of your time to uh to help that next generation in their classrooms. We now move on to our uh our
018next friend of education. Uh I I personally had uh an opportunity to serve several years on the Beaver Dam area community theaters board of directors and uh I just cherish the time I had to work both on the stage and behind the scenes of some great productions. Um there was Annette Camp's remarkable Roots and Wings series. I I did several radio plays, mainstage productions that I'll never forget like Next to Normal and Spitfire Grill. had the opportunity just last year to have a very small connection uh with one of their recent productions called Four Glasses which was directed by one of the gentlemen who will be on the stage here in just a moment. In that particular case, it was an unflinching play that took on some pretty heavy themes and gave this community a
019chance to come together, to reflect, and to have meaningful conversations, which at best is exactly what community theater is meant to do. Finally, the theater is especially meaningful to me and my family. My kids spent countless hours with the Beaver Damary Community Theat's Tellletale Youth Troop, building friendships, learning new things, and having experiences that still hold great value to them to this day, to to both them and my family. All of those experiences had a profound impact on my life personally. I witnessed the impact that art form has had on our community. I've seen just firsthand just how much work goes into making it all look effortless. With that in mind, please uh welcome to the uh the stage and welcome here on the stage. We've got uh business manager uh David Sener. We also
020want to welcome down the chair of the performing arts education committee at the Beaverdam Area Community Theater, Enda Braden. and has uh prepared some marks, but I I just wanted to say a couple of things. First uh on my way over here today, I was leaving uh my office at the at the community theater building and we had 30 40 middle schoolers rehearsing on one floor and uh close to 50 high schoolers perform uh rehearsing for a different show on a different floor. So, our building has been very busy with students. Uh and it's just great hearing them run around the building laughing, having fun, connecting, and learning. I've I've always loved the uh slogan here, learning for a lifetime. I always tell uh the high schoolers that I know that are graduating, like don't
021put your instrument away. Don't stop singing. Don't stop getting up and speaking. We've got opportunities for you. This this is where the learning for the lifetime. We we help that continue. Uh I know my family has been very blessed with all the things that uh we've been able to get out of the community theater and uh I I felt very blessed with the collaboration that we've had with the district with this amazing facility that we have and then that they came together and supported us with our facility and many thanks to Jim and Judy Flynn who helped uh raise so many funds for that. Uh another collaborator that we have up there doing sound right now, Greg Richard. uh just uh the help that he gives us is amazing. So, thank you so much for
022this award. We so much appreciate it. And then uh Enda, our chair of our education committee. So, >> David, um so yeah, uh hello. Uh thank you to the school board members uh that are here tonight. Um, I know I've seen uh I believe I've seen a few of the BDUSD employees um that have taken uh time to be here. Thank you for that. And to everyone here uh that doesn't work in education, enjoy your life as a civilian. Um, so as the chair of the uh what we call the PAEC, the performing arts education committee or you can just call it the education committee if you prefer at Beaver Mary Community Theater. Um, I've been asked to be here and I was told how important it is and I know how important it is
023and you can tell it's important because I uh wore my best Three Stooges tie tonight because of the gravity of being here. There's no way I would have worn the one that has coffee stains. Um, so, uh, I have a a story that's at first might seem to have nothing to do with, uh, BD Act and with our education programs, but it actually has everything to do with our our, uh, our education programs. Um, and you'll see why in a moment. Um so there um in the uh in the 1980s the Jim Henson organization uh pegged uh they would regularly pick people who were they they thought had potential as directors, right? And they had a system for giving them opportunities that were kind of low-level to see if they could handle it and they
024could build up and build up. And uh one gentleman, his first assignment to see if they they would give him some of the more important directing jobs was to work with the puppets uh and direct the puppets that were going to be in the uh Macy's Thanksgiving's Day parade. And this particular year, the Jim Henson part of the parade was like rows and rows and rows of bunnies, puppet bunnies. And they had a couple rehearsals. Everything seemed to be going well. And just before all these puppet bunnies entered the parade, they had everyone line up. They were kind of doing their final check. Everybody knows what to do, the choreography. And there was one bunny in the near the last row that kept leaving the choreography and kind of uh mugging for an audience that
025they didn't have yet. They hadn't quite gone on the parade route. And this young man who uh early in his career was set to direct got furious and he called over the the stage manager/ass assistant director and he said 27th row fourth bunny in get rid of him. And the stage manager said are you sure you want to do that? He said absolutely. We've got this whole thing set up and that bunny is breaking from everything we're doing. He's wrecking everything. Get rid of him. And the stage manager said, "That bunny, that bunny in particular, are you sure you want to get rid of that bunny?" And now really losing it, he said, "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. Get rid of him. Get him out of here." And so the
026stage manager called out. He said, "27th row, fourth bunny in. Please stand up and leave." And he stood up. And it was Jim Henson. So what does that have to do with the act? Um, you've got two competing instincts, right? The instinct of the director to make sure that everyone is working together as a team in this reality that we're creating is important and necessary, but of equal importance is the instinct that Jim Henson had that he's like, I want to do something silly and creative and I want to be outside the box. And what we do at uh BDIAC in our classes are both of those every day. Um we are constantly working with students helping them understand how do we work together? How do you create this thing together? And how do you
027listen? Listening is probably the most important and most underrated aspect of performing. listening not just with your ears but with your eyes to the people that you're working with all the time. But at the same time, that instinct to work outside the box and to have a venue for enjoying the silliness that life gives us is something that everyone deserves. and we provide students with strategies for doing both of those in a productive way. Um during the summer we have opportunities for elementary school students and for middle school students with our telltale. This is uh uh in the program. Um we also have our area high school show that happens every summer during the school year. We have not one but we have two elementary school programs. a choir, One Voice, and a school year
028acting class for elementary school students. We have a middle school um acting class for students called Acting Up. Uh both of the teachers are sitting right there. Thank you guys for being here. Um and we have a new uh high school program we started this year. Very excited about continuing it. Uh we call it winterrep and it's an intensive actor training. Um, we also have uh our first ever uh we started recently our first ever high uh adult program and we the committee uh that I chair um are always looking for more programs. So if anyone's interested, please, you know, talk to me afterwards, find out more or just contact the theater. Uh we want to hear about uh ideas and we're always looking for new ways to expand and connect to the community. But
029in this uh new our winter rep program, this this intensive training, we had a student this year, a current Beaver Dam high school sophomore was in the middle of a workshop, a master class with an internationally renowned Shakespearean educator. We brought this guy uh in and and he was fantastic. And she had one of those light bulb moments, just a great artistic breakthrough. And I I don't want to say her name because I didn't ask her permission to to to say her name in the story. Uh but some of you who who know the the actors uh here at the high school might know who it is when I I I say this thing. But uh she couldn't she was so overwhelmed by the silliness that happened, but also the fact that there was growth
030and she was connecting with everybody that she exclaimed to no one in particular but for everyone to hear, "What witchcraft is this?" And that was maybe one of it's probably the greatest kind of light bulb moment I've ever seen with a student in, you know, 28 years of working with drama programs all over the country. Um, but it sums up both of those instincts. We need chances to be silly and to have fun, but we also need to know who are the people in our community. How do we connect with them? Um, we get students from the district. give them those strategies and we very happily send them back so they can come back to us again and and we couldn't enjoy that anymore. A couple days after that happened, I took off my BDIC
031hat. I was wearing my parent hat and I was sitting in a parent teacher conference at the middle school and the first thing my son's ELA teacher said was, "Hey, you're involved in education at BDACT. Uh, talk to me." And all of a sudden, I had to put my Beiac hat back in, which was such a reminder of how intertwined we are with the community. And no organization is more important to any community, as you know, I'm preaching to the choir here, than a school board or the school district, right? Um, and we are days away at Beiac from hosting this year's Beaver Dam middle school play. Uh, the overlap that we do, I I can stand up for another 20 minutes, relax you. won't, but um happens all the time. Greg shows up at
032our place, we're coming over here. It happens and and and we are so excited that the intertwining happens. Um the BDA BDUSD teachers we know are doing amazing job because of because of what the students have when they come to us. Even though we're here at the 2025 induction ceremony in April of 26, I still think the teachers here are doing a good job. Um, but uh I want to end with this. When I first got to town about four years ago and I hooked up with the theater, I said, "I have a degree in theater ed. I've I've trained teachers all over the country." And they said, "Oh, work with this program and do an interview about it on the radio." And I met Craig over here and he asked me about what students
033get in terms of who they will become later by having the kinds of programs that we offer. And our conversation for the rest of that program was great. Not because we talked about who the students would become, but because of the opportunities they needed right now and how urgent they are to have those experiences. Um, and I could not be prouder of being a part of BDACT and being a part of this community. I've only been here four years, but I love this community. And and thank you, David, for leading all the great things that we do. And with that, I'll stop and get out of the way. You ready to go? >> David and all the members of the Bed family. Um the Beaverdam area community theater enhances and enriches the educational experiences for
034our kids and is such a shining light for our entire community. a unique niche that we have in a community the size that we have. Um in an agrarian rooted community like ours to have a theater to have the programming is a very special thing that adds significant value and for that we thank you and for that uh you are uh forever considered a friend. So thank you very much. >> Thank you. Once again, uh, David Siner, the business director with the Beaver Dam area community theater. And, uh, also a, uh, big thanks, uh, to, uh, to Enda for, uh, for his work, the, uh, chair of the performing arts education committee, Enda Braden. That brings us to the outstanding alumni portion of our program. Our next presenter once personally helped me figure out the
035proper way to pronounce the name of two of our former presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was kind enough to take uh some time out of his day to explain to me the various nuances, the regional dialects and the historical context behind the names, the surnames for Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt. I I still have no idea which one's which to tell you the truth, but maybe uh maybe our next presenter could come up and and set me right. I I thoroughly enjoyed every insightful conversation I've ever had with the good fortune to have with him. And uh as we welcome to the stage, I'd ask you to put your hands together and welcome longtime retired or retired my Let me start that one again. Uh longtime FFA director who is now retired,
036not longtime retired, recently ret anyway, it's David Latch. Please welcome him to the stage. And it's been so long, Craig, that I remember when you had a ponytail, even though I called it a cowtail. But anyways, it is really indeed my pleasure to to uh introduce our outstanding alumnest for the Beaverdam Hall of Fame. I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe that I can exert an influence on my home and community that will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task. I know there's three people in the back of the room who are saying, "Yep, I know those words. Those are the immortal words of the FFA creed written nearly 100 years ago and have inspired Russell Cotky to be the leader and contributor to our community that he
037is today. Once I asked Russ, "What got you to be so involved in government and our community?" He responded, "Mr. Blanky, my FFA advisor, always told us that we need to get involved and be a leader in our community. Russ certainly took those words to heart. Dodge County Board Supervisors, Chairman, Town of Trenton Board of Supervisors and Chair, Beaverdam Agra Business Association President and Treasure. He doesn't even remember that he was president, but was in the paper. And I have the Oh, there it is. Okay. Um and uh and Dodge County Dairy Promotion Committee, Oakwood Cemetery Board, Secretary Treasure. He's a heck of a good friend. And because he's been associated with Oakwood Cemetery, he's the last to let you down. He's been on the Flyway Mutual Insurance Company board of directors, the Fox Lake
038Community Fire Association secretary treasure, and somehow he still found time to milk cows. Any high school agriculture teacher would have immediately recognized Russ was a true farm kid. His life surrounded the daily work and the seasons of the farm. His sister Is graduated from high school by the time Russ entered Trenton Elementary School. So the farm chores were Russ's responsibility. That didn't leave a lot of time for a lot of other school activities. He was shy and reserved. His high school yearbook states that his only activity in high school was FFA 2, three, and four. Though a sister graduated from Fox Lake High School, when the school district lines were actually drawn, Russ's parents insisted that their farm be included in Beaver Dam Unified School District so that Russ could go to Beaver Dam. That's
039why Russ's farm is the farthest north piece of property in the D Beaver Dam school district. And when he graduated, uh, in his yearbook, his fellow student wrote in his, uh, in the beaver log, he wrote, "Two cocks." I'm not exactly sure what Cox meant, but that I assume was his nickname. You are a very nice kid. Good luck in the future. And when he graduated from high school, he was going to be a farmer. As I understand it, his classmates voted him to be the most likely to sack seed. But life took an abrupt change for Russ when his dad passed away. Russ became the head of the house and manager of the farm. He might have been satisfied with taking care of his Jersey cows, but as we know, Russ is committed to
040his community. By the way, County Highway W was transferred back to the town of Trenton, and it was Russ's suggestion to call it Jersey Road. As busy as he was on the farm, he always found time to help anyone in need. whether it was somebody that needed some hay bailed uh or Thank you, Russ. when the hay baler broke and he would show up and make sure that the hay got bailed. Okay. And uh he would be found uh leaving the farm early in the morning to go somewhere to scramble eggs for a dairy brunch or for the something special from Wisconsin breakfast, which by the way is going to be May 3rd, Sunday right here. And if you need tickets, talk to Russ. He's got some extras along with him. So, uh a shameless
041plug right there. Okay. and uh his association with the Agra business association has provided hundreds of FFA members with scholarships to attend leadership conferences, workshops, and to go on to college and technical school. His honorary chapter degree is welld deserved. When there's a need for a judge for a 4 event or for the county fairest of the fair contest, you can count on Russ. Every 4 member is proud to know that Russ is a friend of 4. Alan Stroshine visited with Judge Dan Clausner just before he passed away. He asked Russ to about Russ. He asked Judge Clausner about Russ Kodki. Though the judge was unable to write a letter for his nomination, he wanted to make sure that everyone knew that no one ever said a bad word about Russ Kodki as chairman of
042the county board. Russ Kodki was has certainly exerted an influence on his home and community and that will stand solid for his part in that inspiring task. Congratulations, Russ. Russ, you were uh one of a handful of people that I was required to get to know or at least learn about early when I started my career in Beaver Dam. And we spent time sitting at a a table waiting for our time to speak at economic lunchins. I've seen you flip many a pancake before um and otherwise be around so many wonderful events on behalf of our kids. And as an outst outstanding alumnest, uh you saw obviously with the FFA emblem and the reflection of service, service, service around that. Um you've also been a just a wonderful example of leadership and how steady and
043reflective you are and how caring you are for everybody in your community and we thank you for that. and uh the wall of fame committee in the Beaver Dam Unified School District recognizes you as an outstanding alumnest and a wonderful example for future generations. So, thank you and congratulations, Russ. Thank you very much. You know, I don't know what to say. I kind of lost for words, but it's very rewarding to get this award and something I never expected in my life. if I didn't do the things I did for an award. That's not my style to get an award. And you know, I I got to thank many people that are in here that helped. And one of my I did not have John Mur as an egg teacher, but we were at the
044high school at the same time. He was teaching helping Fred Mikey out at that time. Was a great experience. We talked the other day, John and I talked about some old times that we had at the high school when I was a senior and he was teaching that year. So, it's just been wonderful and um I just thank God every day that I'm available to do what I am and I just totally enjoy it. And sometimes I think, you know, what would my dad have said if seeing what I'm doing today? you know, he passed away at a young age and uh you know, I was only 25 years old at the time and so I kind of grew into everything that I did and you know, it's a I guess a little bit of
045you know, I my one of my grandfathers was on the town board of town of Beaverdam years ago in 19 uh 29 30 right in there in the depression times and they said that he always talked they that how people would come to the house and want to be election workers. And today we can't hardly find election workers to work at the polls. And them days they got $3 a day in depression times. And they thought that was really great, you know, and they were begging for the job from one election to the next. And I know Karen Gibson is here and she realizes what we have to pay today for election workers and what you know at them times were. And it's just been great. And I thank everyone that wrote letters for me.
046And um I'm so thankful I could have my sister here tonight with me and and uh my brother-in-law is in the home, but you know, it's we're I'm so glad she's here and to enjoy this with me. So, thank you everyone. Thank you. Thank you so much, uh Russ, and congratulations to you and honors. Certainly. Certainly that is well welld deserved and and again as somebody who has uh kids who graduated from this district it is an honor for me to know that they stand alongside graduates of this school like yourself. And with that that brings us to the uh the closing portion of our uh our program today. Want to take a moment to reflect on what we've witnessed and thank everyone who helped make it possible. Uh, first to our honores, Gary Spielman,
047the Beaverdam area community theater, and of course, outstanding alumnist Russ Ky. The impact you've had on this community, on its schools, and on the people who call Beaverdam home is lasting and meaningful. Today is a celebration, but it's also a reminder of just how much one person or one organization can contribute over time. I also want to thank our presenters Bev Beal Lake, Marge Jorgensson, David Latch. Each of you brought a personal perspective and genuine appreciation for the individuals and organizations you introduced. That's what made this afternoon feel special. It's not just a ceremony, but it's a a meaningful recognition of people who truly truly deserve it. Reception earlier today, there was some excellent food. It was very delicious. Uh clearly very well enjoyed by everyone. A thank you to Taher food service and to
048those who took the time to nominate this year's honores. Thank you. These recognitions don't happen without people who are willing to step forward and say this person matters. This work matters. I would encourage everyone here in the auditorium, anyone that is watching this uh on on video later to consider nominating someone in the future for a friend of education or outstanding alumni award. At this time, I'd also like to recognize the members of the wall of fame committee. This group does incredible work, an incredible amount of work behind the scenes here today, reviewing nominations, organizing this event, and making sure that these stories are told and that these legacies are preserved. If you are here this afternoon, please stand to be recognized as I call your name. John Casper, Glenn Link, there's Glenn. Hey, Glenn.
049Cindy Noey. Is Cindy here? Hey Cindy, Mark Dphano, also our awards presenter this evening. Thank you Mark. Bev Bele and Marge Jorgensson. Thank you for your your time, your dedication, and your commitment to honoring the people who make this school district and this community what it is. Quite simply, this event doesn't happen without you. Before we conclude, just a quick reminder that photos, photographs are going to be taken at the wall of fame display outside of the auditorium. We encourage everyone to stop by, take a look, and continue celebrating these welldeserved honores. Thank you for being here today and for being part of a school district and a community that values service, leadership, and connection. I hope everybody has a great rest of their day. Thank you.