By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Ellie Bollig, a Roosevelt second-grader, was honored with the student USD 489 Best of the Best Award for her companionship and compassion toward a STAR student in her class.
She was nominated by Jan Burkholder, Roosevelt second-grade teacher.
“Many times our society selects individuals to receive awards based on what is visible or brightly proclaimed through different social media. While many of those individuals are very deserving of the recognition, I have chosen a young leader, a quiet student, for the caring assistance that she shows each day to one of our Roosevelt STAR students,” Burkholder read from her nomination.
The STAR program is a special education program at Roosevelt. All of its students have some level of disability.
“Without needing or getting any instruction from me her teacher, without waiting for an earned award, without expecting any recognition for being there, this student, Ellie, has initiated on her own to touch the life of another. Ellie gently leads her classmate to any place the student needs to go without needing to be first in line. She holds back and makes sure her buddy has the necessary supplies, zips up a coat to face that wintry outdoors or simply lends a gentle hand to walk to our next location
“Most of the time a loving arm is wrapped around the shoulder of her friend as they walk side by side down the hallway. During a quite reading time, Ellie’s lap becomes the cozy spot were her friend wants to sit.”
Burkholder noted the student has even fallen asleep in Ellie’s lap.
“Ellie gives of her time and gives of her energy and her love to show kindness and compassion to her STAR companion and friend. She leads by example, always calm, caring, kind and willing to help others.”
Burkholder said Ellie also excels in her academics and has a large group of other supportive friends.
“If I were to ask Ellie why she looks forward to each day, it won’t be those two accomplishments,” Burkholder said. “I know she looks forward to being there for her STAR student. That is where she places her heart and devotion. Ellie is a leader of tomorrow. We the parents, community and school are raising a generation of generous hearts for giving to others.”
Burkholder turned to Ellie and said through tears, “Ellie, as your teacher, I am very proud of you. Please continue to be the Best of the Best.”
Toni Lohrmeyer
Toni Lohrmeyer was nominated by school board member Luke Oborny for December’s staff Best of the Best Award.
Lohrmeyer is a library secretary for both O’Loughlin and Wilson elementary schools. She checks in and out books, catalogs new books, shelves books, creates displays, maintains records and assists with the O’Loughlin book fair. She also supervises 20 classes as they use the library. Oborny’s wife is the librarian at O’Loughlin.
She said, “I can’t do my job without her knowledge, organization and help.”
However, her work in the school libraries is not why Oborny nominated her for the award.
During the summer, Lohrmeyer works in the Rockwell copy center. This summer the district made a change in its copier contract.
She noticed the district was starting to pay for staples out of the copy center. The cost of the staples in the new contract was going to be as much as $2,000 per year. She brought the cost to Luke Oborny’s attention.
Oborny sent a question to the district finance director, who addressed the issue in the contract with the district’s sales rep.
After the company reviewed the contract, they agreed the staples were to be included in the contract cost.
Oborny said $2,000 can make a big difference when the district is dealing with tight budgets. He encouraged other employees to look at their day-in-and-day-out expenses in the same way.
“She could have done nothing with this information,” Oborny said. “She could have could have complained about it.”
Oborny said instead Lohrmeyer had detailed notes about what the district should review.
“I look at this as a case of her persistence and her strive for excellence that just added up to a big saving for our district,” he said. “That attitude and concern for organization is why I nominated Toni for Best of the Best and why I am honored to be the first to congratulate her.”