The LifeChanger of the Year program is primarily all about honoring the amazing work done by educators all around the country.
But starting last year, LifeChanger also started honoring the communities that make the schools themselves and the people who work in them so special.
David Collins and his wife stand with National Life’s Mallorie Manosh and Jacob Marley.
We discovered just how powerful that spirit is when David Collins, a first-grade teacher at Union Elementary STEM & Demonstration School was presented the 2017-18 Spirit Award in his hometown of Gallatin, Tennessee.
His city about 30 miles north of Nashville and David himself were the perfect winners.
Mallorie Manosh, director of the LifeChanger program, shared these observations with us after returning to the citywide celebration Gallatin held to honor David.
As we drove through downtown Gallatin we realized that practically the whole town was decked out with “We love David Collins #LCOY” banners on local establishments. The ceremony was held at a local park that backed up to an old farm property. The same farm that David grew up on and has fond memories of. Behind the pavilion lies a butterfly garden that David established and 1,000 children gathered around last year at his annual butterfly release. To the right of the butterfly garden, the initials DC are mowed into the grass courtesy of Principal Lance Taylor.
Inside the pavilion crowds gathered despite the cold temperatures, darkening skies and blustering wind. David’s class was front and center, surrounded by parents, colleagues, and local community residents and business owners. Shortly before 4 p.m. a parade of police cars funneled into the park escorting the man of the hour. And the event was under way.
Principal Taylor introduced National Life and our presentation was followed by the music class singing songs for David, a Senator, the Mayor, other colleagues and then David himself. In addition to the LifeChanger of the Year banner and certificate we presented David with, he also received a total of three proclamations, the key to the city, a book with letters from all of his students and the Mayor announced that April 6th is now officially David Collins Day. He received a number of other gifts from those in the audience and when the ceremony was over there was a huge line of fans waiting to congratulate David and share stories of how he had positively impacted someone – or some people – in their lives.
What Mallorie doesn’t mention here is that David is retiring and his city made the LifeChanger award presentation his official retirement party. We were proud to be a part of it.
LifeChanger also made a stop in West Virginia over the past week.
Melissa Lovejoy is principal of Elkview Middle School in Elkview. She was recognized in a surprise ceremony and presented $3,000 to be evenly split with her school.
Missy, as she’s known, stepped up two years ago after Elkview was hit by devastating flooding that destroyed the local high school and many other places around town. She spent the summer helping round up clothing, supplies and other assistance in recovering from the flood. Then she spent the school year coordinating a way to hold classes for the middle school during the morning in her building so high school students could use it in the afternoon because their building was destroyed.
Missy is one of 10 national LifeChangers we’re recognizing around the country. The five LifeChanger of the Year finalists will travel to Bermuda next month where the Grand Prize winner will be revealed.
Melissa Lovejoy, in white jacket, at her surprise ceremony.