By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The final “Best of the Best” awards for the 2014-15 school year were presented during Monday’s Hays USD 489 school board meeting.

The Student Award went to Roosevelt Elementary School fifth-grader Brayden Hines, and the Staff Award went Roosevelt kindergarten teacher Lois Britten.

Brayden’s family, including the aunt and uncle he lives with, filled the back row of audience chairs in a show of proud support.

Roosevelt school counselor Eva Junk told board members, “Brayden’s peers seek him out and adults trust him.”

He’s a member of the Roosevelt Student Council and initiated a fundraiser to “help families affected by cancer,” Junk said, “after Brayden lost his own grandfather to cancer.”

“I was totally taken aback when we raised over $1,200 in just 20 minutes,” she said with smile at Braden.

Britten was praised by Roosevelt school nurse Jeanne Hauptman for “knowing children need to be loved and cared for, even in their worst moments.

“Mrs. Britten goes the extra mile, even purchasing the clothes on their backs and the shoes on their feet.”

Britten is retiring this year after 39 years of service with USD 489.

The duo was congratulated and shook hands with the school board members as well as Superintendent Dean Katt.

Brayden and Britten were each also presented with a customized, engraved limestone post trophy and a $50 gift certificate to local restaurants.

The board of education Best of the Best award was started this academic year to acknowledge those who are “building on the best.” The monthly award is available to all students and staff in USD 489. The program will resume in October for the 2015-16 academic year.