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Earlham Honors Distinguished For Immediate Release: 
Earlham's Jeff Rickey and Nancy Sinex are shown with Angela Koontz (center) of Franklin Community High School after presenting Koontz with her Distinguished Teacher Award. (Photo by Marc Lebryk, The Indianapolis Star. Used by permission.) RICHMOND, Ind. — Earlham College honored two Indiana high school teachers during the 2008 Academic All-Stars luncheon on April 9 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis. Angela Koontz, U.S. history teacher at Franklin Community High School, was named the Distinguished Teacher in Humanities, and John Drozd, an advanced placement calculus teacher at Fishers High School, was named the Distinguished Teacher in Math and Sciences. Each teacher received a prize of $1,000. Members of Earlham's Admissions Office selected the teachers based on essays the Indiana Academic All-Stars wrote about the teacher who had the most influence on their academic career.  John Drozd, an advanced placement calculus teacher at Fishers High School, was selected as the Distinguished Teacher in Math and Sciences by members of Earlham's Admissions Office. The award carries a $1,000 prize. "I have never met a teacher more humble who explores issues with us, who discusses in place of lecturing," Academic All-Star Emily Wang wrote about Drozd in her essay. "As a class we delved further into issues than at all necessary for the exam, but I realize now that my teacher's profound appreciation for math was truly contagious." Drozd says he was "taken aback" when he was informed about winning the award. "Emily and so many of her peers exemplify the best in American youth," Drozd says. "The enthusiasm of students is infectious." Sean Wilson, an Academic All-Star from Franklin Community High School, plans to major in history in college because of Koontz.  Angela Koontz, a U.S. history teacher at Franklin Community High School, says Academic All-Star Sean Wilson will help her select books for her classroom with part of the $1,000 she was awarded for being selected the Distinguished Teacher in the Humanities at the Academic All-Stars luncheon. "Although I have always enjoyed history, Mrs. Koontz's unique approach transformed my interest into an intellectual fascination," Wilson wrote in his essay. "She helped me apply the logic I mastered in mathematics, the writing skills I developed in English, and analysis I achieved in the sciences to examine fully the breadth of United States history." Koontz says that she was humbled by the award and credits her students for part of her success. "My students constantly keep me on my toes and have pushed me to become a better teacher," she says. Each year, accredited high schools throughout the state may nominate one senior student for consideration for the Academic All-Stars. Selections are based on SAT/ACT scores, grade point average, academic courses and achievements, extracurricular activities, community service and leadership. This year, 40 All-Stars were selected from 84 regional winners. The Indianapolis Star Indiana Academic All-Stars program is in its 22nd year and is a partnership of the Indianapolis Star, the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana Association of High School Principals. — EC — Contact:
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Earlham
College · 801 National Road West · Richmond,
Indiana 47374-4095 |