Better late than never, as some might say. The reception for the Cushing Chamber of Commerce Business After School honorees for January scheduled for last Monday, took place Monday Feb. 2 instead. The reception had to be rescheduled due to last week’s inclement weather.
January’s honorees were: Kathy Maloney, Guadalupe (Lupe) Walls, Jordon Young and Phillip Wilson.
Kathy Maloney, teacher at Harmony School, was named the Teacher of the Month. Maloney has been teaching for over 28 years and plans to retire this year.
Harmony principal, Nancy Dowell spoke highly of her staff member. “Kathy has wonderful qualities,” Dowell said. “She’s an excellent teacher, she’s humble and she has a heart of gold.”
Kathy is the mother of two – Pat who works in Washington, D.C. and Ryan, a high school girls basketball coach and teacher in Choctaw. She attends the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, watching TV and attending ballgames and wrestling matches. Kathy also said she is looking forward to her retirement so she can “travel and have leisure time.”
The title of “Support Person of the Month” went to Guadalupe Walls – or “Lupe” as she is lovingly called.
Lupe is the assistant cook at Cushing High School. She has been married for almost 26 year and has three children – two girls and a boy. She is also a grandmother of two, a boy and a girl. Her husband is the pastor of the First Church of God in Ripley. They also own a soup kitchen – “The Gathering Place” in Ripley. It is their hope that one day soon, they will also have a food pantry.
“What a catch!,” said John Rhoten. “Lupe was hired to fill a vacancy in 2007 and she takes pride in what she does. She brightens your day with her smile.”
Students of the Month were Jordon Young and Phillip Wilson.
Jordon Young lives with her dad Timothy Young owner of Young Tool Co. LLC and Deborah Young who is a speech pathologist. She also has one sister who is a junior at OSU. Her hobbies include dancing, sports, reading and doing community service. Jordan is an active member of the Tri-County Church of Christ and has been on several mission trips to the Yucatan and inner city St. Louis. She is also the reigning Payne County Jr. Miss.
Unfortunately, Jordon was unable to attend due to a death in the family.
Phillip Wilson is the son of Mike and Shelly Wilson and has a little brother named Drew. Phillip enjoys ping pong, going fishing, athletics and staying involved. He’s a member of the First Baptist Church and works part-time for the Cushing Youth Center.
CHS principal Jim Lauerman had this to say about Phillip: “Phillip is an outstanding young man. One hundred percent isn’t in his vocabulary – he gives at least 110 or 120 percent.”
Each month throughout the school year, the Cushing Chamber of Commerce Business After School honors one teacher, one support person and a senior boy and girl. The honorees are selected by their principals and peers.
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