(Cushing, Okla.) The Cushing Chamber of Commerce Business After School honoring February recipients was held on Monday, February 25, 2019. Business After School is a Chamber program that honors Cushing’s education community.
Each month, one educator, one support staff and two high school seniors are honored. A reception is held at 4 p.m. in the Cushing Chamber of Commerce board room the last Monday of each school month (with the exception of September and December). Receptions are open to the public.
Those honored for the month of February were: Stephanie Penny, CHS support staff; David Tarp, CMS teacher; Lexy Koehn, CHS senior; Dakota Norman, CHS senior.
A little bit about the February honorees:
Support staff of the month is Stephanie Penny. Stephanie and her husband, Cody have two children, Oliver and Ella June and four dogs, Memphis, Harley, Motley and Moose. Her children keep her busy with activities ath the CLE and CUE, Dance Star Productions and volunteering at their schools. She likes to relax by taking naps and cuddling up with her kids reading a good book or watching a good movie. The most enjoyable place she has ever visited was taking her kids to the beach for the first time in Texas. She stated that “My husband and kids keep me pushing and chasing my dreams! I refuse to settle. Life is too short to do so!” What she loves best about her school is that the staff is positive and empowering. She was asked what she would do if she won the lottery and stated, “Pay off mortgage & bills, take my family to Disney, expand our family business & have one heck of a savings account!”
David Tarp is the teacher of the month recipient and is married to Kristin Tarp. He has three step-children, Rebekah, Addison and Harper. They have two dogs named Ally and Charli. His students motivate him to get up every morning and what he loves best about his school is the way everyone is so nice and supportive. David says, “It really feels like a family atmosphere. The most enjoyable place he has ever visited is Ireland. He stated that he loves to spend time with his family and golfing. On winning the lottery, “Well, I wouldn’t change much. I love what I do so I would still teach.”
Lexy Koehn, CHS senior is the daughter of Rex and Libby Koehn. She has one sister, Sterling and lots of animals, such as horses, cows, goats, dogs and cats. A person in her life that has inspired her is her grandma. Her education plans beyond high school include going to OSU and get her bachelor’s degree in Ag. Business and Ag. Communications. Her favorite subject is math and she has received many awards; such as Rotarian Student of the Month, Princeton Bookclub Award, Star Greenhand Award, she has been accepted into OSU FIT program and is Chapter FFA President. She also volunteers in Cushing Pride cleanup, helped at a homeless shelter and consignment store in Pensocola, Florida, served Moore helping restore houses after a tornado, participated in cemetary cleanup and serves concessions for 4-H/FFA and OKJSA. Advice she would give to a younger person who wants to be successful in high school is “Always do your own work! If you don’t understand something, take the extra time to ask your teacher because your friends may be wrong and won’t be able to explain it.”
Dakota Norma, CHS senior, is the son of josh and Yvette Norman. He has one brother, Tyler and one sister, Brynlee. His grandmother is Kay Palmer. Some of his interests in school include Band, Choir, NHS, Drama, cross country and the Academic team. Through his years in NHS and student council, he has accumulated many service hours through his church, food drives and helping in children’s theatre. Awards he has received consist of Fine Arts Student of the Week, ECOBDA Honor Band, Cimarron Valley Honor Band, Cross Country Academic All State and Athlete of the Week. Don Amon is a person that inspires him in that he has never stopped performing. He has always found a way. Some advice he would give to any younger person is, “Do not be afraid to leave your comfort zone. You never know where you will find a true group of friends.”
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