From left are Vonda Ryman, Duane Burkhart, Rod Hamman, Debbie Potter and Susanne Siebrase.

AKRON — The Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation honored years of service and the passing of torches Monday night, May 14, as recognition was given to several longtime employees who will soon enter retirement.

In terms of longevity, the senior retiree was Superintendent Brett Boggs, who will begin his new chapter after the June regular meeting of the corporation’s Board of School Trustees. Boggs coordinated a presentation to honor the other retirees, but was surprised when the tables were turned by board member Bryan Murphy.

“I want to take this time, just a few minutes, to recognize Mr. Boggs,” Murphy said of the outgoing superintendent, who began with the corporation in 1978.

Outgoing Superintendent Brett Boggs receives a St. Louis Cardinals umbrella.

“I”m not going to be at the next board meeting and the next board meeting is going to be Mr. Boggs’ last,” Murphy continued. “I just want to say what a privilege it is to work with Mr. Boggs. I’ve never seen anyone as dedicated and as passionate as Mr. Boggs. If any of you have ever driven by the school here on Saturday or Sundays, you would see his vehicle out there. No one has the dedication to the job as he does. Our school corporation has been very fortunate to have this man as our superintendent. He is a man of integrity.”

Akron Elementary School Principal Chrissy Mills mirrored Murphy’s comments and presented Boggs with a gift.

“On behalf of Akron Elementary, because this is where it all began, we’d like to say thank you, Mr. Boggs,” she said. “Many of us had you as a teacher and you also gave some of us our first jobs and the list goes on and on and on and we just want to thank you from the Akron staff and we wish you the best.”

The box presented to Boggs contained a gift bearing the logo of a major league baseball team, apparently the main rival team to the squad followed by Boggs’ successor, Blaine Conley.

“It’s a St. Louis Cardinals umbrella,” said Boggs, “and I’ll have to hide it from Mr. Conley because he’ll probably want to use it.”

After the show of levity, Boggs paused while he gained the composure to express his gratitude.

“I appreciate your words,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun for 40 years and I look out there and I see a lot of faces that I’ve known for a long time and that’s the most rewarding part of what I’ve done here. You don’t do anything by yourself, you do it together. I’ve seen a lot of people grow up from little ones to grown ups and then I’ve seen their kids come here to school and that’s very rewarding. It’s been a privilege to be part of this community and I plan to be here as long as I live.”

The school corporation also recognized retirees Duane Burkhart, 35 years; Deb Day, 34 years with 33 years at TVSC; Rod Hamman, 34 years; Mike Miller, 39 years with 35 years at TVSC; Debbie Potter, 44 years with 24 years at TVSC; Vonda Ryman, 39 years; and Susanne Siebrase, 23 years.

The board also expressed gratitude to Lori Stiffler, Tippecanoe Valley High School cheerleading sponsor.