A round of applause for Mr. (Jeffrey) Stoppenhagen, speech and debate teacher at Columbia High School, for being named the National Speech & Debate Association’s 2017-2018 Idaho Educator of the Year!
Mr. Stoppenhagen was the Idaho Speech Arts Teacher’s Association’s 2017 Speech Teacher of the Year, so, you know, there’s only one way to upgrade after that, and that’s by being recognized by a national organization.
Even better, this award puts him in the running for the National Educator of the Year Award. That winner will be announced on March 2. Everyone, cross your fingers.
Now, on to bragging about him.
Mr. Stoppenhagen attended Boise State University, and while working on his second bachelor’s degree (his first was in political science, second was in secondary education), he was the assistant coach for the Broncos’ speech and debate team. These days, he is teaching at Columbia and also coaching the East Valley Middle School speech and debate team.
Outside of school, Mr. Stoppenhagen is on the national council for Pi Kappa Delta, an honor society for debaters. He is also president of the Idaho Speech Arts Teacher’s Association (wait a second, coach. Isn’t it cheating to get a teacher of the year award from an organization you’re the president of?) and has spent time volunteering with St. Luke’s pet therapy program.
Columbia is sure lucky to have him, is all I’m saying. He’s highly talented and has led their team to the state title for the past two years running.
St. Paul’s Catholic School students decorate tree for Zions Bank
Every year, Zions Bank branches invite groups of students to put up their lobby Christmas trees, and this year, the Zions Bank in Nampa enjoyed the decorating efforts of over 60 preschool, kindergarten and first-grade students from St. Paul’s Catholic School.
The children made the ornaments themselves, and they sang during the Lights On ceremony for the tree on Wednesday. In return for their efforts, Zions Bank donated $100 to the school.
Make a quick stop at the bank (2121 W. Karcher Road in Nampa) to see their ornaments and admire how the tree turned out.
I’m putting mine up this weekend, speaking of Christmas trees, and would love to see how all of you decorate yours. Fashions for trees change over the years; some people keep it classic, and others are always switching it up. Send me a photo of yours if you’re especially proud of it, and I’ll share the photo so we can all swap decorating ideas.
Brandt Foundation awards $60K to NNU
The John H. & Orah I. Brandt Foundation has awarded a $60,000 grant to Northwest Nazarene University! The money will go toward scholarships and “discretionary funds,” according to a press release I received.
This was one of 26 grants the Brandt Foundation has awarded recently; this year, the foundation awarded a total of $681,500. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, it has given over $6.2 million to local organizations.
Thanks go out to the members of the foundation for their efforts to make our community the best it can be.
