Our first award of the LifeChanger of the Year’s 2018-19 season went to a school counselor in Kansas this week.
We traveled to Garden City, Kansas, to present the Spotlight Award to Jenna Rycek, (second from left in photo above) the school psychologist at Florence Wilson Elementary School in one of our trademark surprise events.
The Spotlight Award was created just last year to help us focus on a particular discipline where we could spotlight the exceptional work by educators in their chosen field. This year’s discipline was school counseling.
Jenna was nominated by her principal, who wrote that she “goes beyond the typical scope of a school psychologist’s involvement with students.”
“Jenna wants to make a difference in the lives of all students. In our school neighborhood, we have a short-term foster home,” Principal Skyla Wehkamp wrote. “Jenna has been a leading advocate for these students, both inside and outside of the school setting. The students may only be with us for ninety days, however, she strives to make them feel part of our school.”
As the winner of the Spotlight Award, Jenna received a $2,500 personal cash award and an equal amount was presented to the school. A banner declaring her the winner was also presented for display in the school.
Maria McLendon of the Branding Team and Marco Campa, a key account rep, represented National Life and LifeChanger of the Year.
They also presented a certificate Jennifer Armstrong (second from right in photo above with Maria and Campa on either side), a school counselor at Florence Wilson, who also was nominated for a LifeChanger award.