By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
During Monday’s school board meeting, Hays High School senior Dustin Schneider was honored with the Hays school district’s student Best of the Best Award for going out of his way to help others.
Sue Rouse, high school receptionist, nominated Schneider, saying he was an exemplary young man.
He was president of FFA, vice-president of HHS Student Council, member of the National Honor Society and a member of the Chamber Singers.
Schneider was often in the school office working on projects for the various groups he was involved in, Rouse said.
“What Dustin knows is there is no ‘I’ in team,” she said. “I watched him last year as a Stuco officer. When something needed to get done and the person in charge didn’t do it, he stepped in and made sure it got done. It needed to get done, and therefore that is what he needed to do.”
Rouse said Schneider practiced service above self.
Schneider was always encouraging and prompted his other Stuco members to be positive and get excited about their projects.
“That is really awesome for a young man who doesn’t think about self, but what he can do to help others,” Rouse said. “He helped build and make a team.”
One day, Schneider happened to be in the office when a father needed to pick up some art supplies for his daughter. Rouse was busy with something else. Schneider gladly went to the art department, picked up the supplies and delivered to them to the father.
“The next thing I know he is in the office with the art supplies, giving them to the father. I am not even part of it any more. He is taking care of it in the most professional manner. The father left, and he was very happy. I was just grateful that Dustin was there in the hallway so I could ask him to do a favor for me.”
In another instance, on a cold spring day, Schneider helped two fellow students jump start their car.
“He was willing to step up and give his time and his knowledge and take care of two students he didn’t even know. That makes Dustin Schneider really one of the best of the best,” Rouse said.
Superintendent John Thissen also complimented Schneider. He said Schneider stayed late at the high school plant sale to make sure Thissen was able to purchase what he needed.
Physical education teacher Jay Sanders was nominated by Paula Rice, Roosevelt principal, for the staff Best of the Best Award for May.
Rice said Sanders gave up his planning periods for four months to help during recess when the school was short staffed. He answers the phone in the office and with other duties as needed.
“He is always there when I need him for anything and everything,” Rice said. “You add on top of that he is a really phenomenal educator and you just get the best of the best.
“People tend to underestimate PE teachers. This incredible guy builds social skills every day.”
A student came to Roosevelt who did not speak English.
“He would take her and infuse her right into the class, and she felt supported, but never once was she babied,” Rice said.
“He sets his expectations high, and those students get there, every single one of them every single day,” she said. “But they know they are loved and they know they are cared for and they know how to make him happy. I am incredibly grateful to have him. Roosevelt is incredibly blessed to have him, and the district is far better off with him. He really is the best of the best.”