By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

Monday’s Hays USD 489 Board Meeting brought another edition of the school board’s “Best of the Best” awards ceremony for the month of October.

President James Leiker unveiled the monthly award for one staff member and one student in September to help boost morale after a series of budget cuts. The awards acknowledge one student and one staff member each month who continually goes above and beyond their normal call of duty.

Karen Smith, executive assistant to Mark Hauptman, the assistant superintendent for special services, won the staff member award for the month of October. Her colleague, Gabriela Schmidt, nominated her for the award. They’ve worked together for approximately 12 years.

“(Karen) is genuinely committed to working hard for the good of the district and has the positive attitude of ‘let’s just do what we need to do to get the job done,’ ” Schmidt said. “For me, personally, she has been a mentor, motivator and I also see her as a positive role model for all working women.”

Hays Middle School teacher Bruce Rupp nominated eighth-grader Peyton Thorell for the student award. Rupp said Thorell was not afraid of his image and that he was always willing to help other students.

“I’m lucky enough to have Peyton in both my class and as a peer tutor,” Rupp said. “The thing that sets him apart from other students and peer tutors is how little he worries about himself and his image and how much he worries about helping other kids in the class, especially when I have students with special needs.”

Both recipients received a customized limestone trophy as well as a $50 dining certificate.