WCS Teachers Nominated For National Award
By JONATHAN SOOHOO
Communications Manager, Conover Gould Strategic Communications
WARSAW — Scott Sterk, sixth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, and David Wayne, physical education teacher and basketball coach at Warsaw Community High School, have been nominated for the 2015-2016 national LifeChanger of the Year award.
Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, the LifeChanger of the Year program recognizes and rewards K-12 public and private school educators and employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.
Sterk and Wayne were nominated by community member Megan Stone.
Sterk always provides a challenging academic experience for his students by creating a caring, fun and enriching classroom environment. He has made a significant impact on Lincoln Elementary, the Warsaw community and thousands of children worldwide. He and a colleague, David Wayne, organize volunteers – including many students – for an annual event, Feed My Starving Children Warsaw MobilePack. Volunteers hand pack meals formulated for malnourished children around the world.
In partnership with Sterk, Wayne was inspired to give students the opportunity to participate in the Feed My Starving Children Warsaw MobilePack. Wayne began teaching at Lincoln Elementary School in 1992 and taught fifth grade for 23 years before accepting a new position as a physical education teacher at Warsaw Community High School.
For the past 10 years, he has also coached the high school basketball team. He holds his students to the highest standards of excellence and has a distinct ability to connect with others on a personal level.
“His example of enriching the lives of others as a teacher and coach will leave a lasting impression on the minds and hearts of many,” said Stone.
This year, Sterk, Wayne and the volunteers of the Warsaw MobilePack event beat their goal of packaging more than 1 million meals, which will feed 2,918 children in Guyana, Haiti, Mexico, the Philippines and Uganda for a year. By volunteering their time, students learn about the importance of serving others, particularly those who are less fortunate.
Each school year, the LifeChanger of the Year program receives hundreds of nominations. For 2015-2016, a total of 16 winners will be chosen by the selection committee to receive cash awards that are split between the individual winner and their school. The national grand prize award is $10,000. The top five winners will also be honored at a national awards ceremony.
Nominees must be full-time school employees. Award winners are selected based on the following criteria:
- A proven ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students
- An ability to positively add to the development of the school’s atmosphere
- Is involved in leadership activities at the school and/or community level
- A demonstrative record of excellent performance at the professional level
- A commitment to producing a nurturing atmosphere
- Adherence to high moral and ethical standards
Winners will be announced this spring.
This year, a new prize, called the “LifeChanger Spirit Award,” will be given to a nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for his or her nomination through positive comments on the nominee’s profile page, social media posts and school and community recognition activities. A resource page with ideas for ways to celebrate nominees can be found here.
To view Sterk’s and Wayne’s LifeChanger of the Year nominee profiles or to nominate someone from your school community, click here.