GREENFIELD – Teachers who care in a community that supports its students were celebrated Saturday as Greenfield-Central staff and supporters gathered for the Red Letter Gala.
The annual event, hosted by the Greenfield Central School Foundation, brought more than 200 people together to honor the G-C Hall of Fame and other awards, as well as connect the community to the classroom by granting teacher wishes.
“Greenfield has meant so much to my family, going back to both sets of my grandparents,” said Kyle Gibson, one of the inductees in the Hall of Fame, adding that school administrators and friends made a big impact on his life. “I just can’t say enough about Greenfield-Central and the community itself.”
Gibson, a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, was not able to attend in person because he actually spent the evening pitching. Still, he sent in his comments through a video. The Class of 2006 graduate was among four inductees and his grandparents accepted the honor on his behalf.
Other inductees were Michael O’Connor, Class of 1982 who has worked in government for the city of Indianapolis and businesses; Richard Silcox Jr., Class of 1993, who has served with the Indiana State Police for 24 years; and Dr. Eugene Chio, Class of 1996, an ENT-otolaryngologist in Ohio who has been recognized for his surgical innovation in sleep apnea surgery.
The Hall of Fame seeks to inspire students by showing how people with similar roots can have an impact in their professions and their communities at the local, regional, national and international level.
All four inductees gave brief speeches, thanking the community for its positive impact on their lives and the caring community they found at Greenfield-Central schools.
“Through life, the most influential people are the people who care about you,” Silcox said.
Melia Hammons and Bill McKenna were both winners of the Robert Albano Award. Hammons was honored for her work as principal at Eden Elementary School, as well as her career as teacher, coach and assistant principal. McKenna was honored for his 21 years at G-C as an advocate for the school corporation through radio and television programs, as well as serving the foundation by recording and editing Hall of Fame videos annually.
The Friend of the Foundation Award was given to Patric McClarnon, honoring him for the foundation’s growth due in large part to his management of financial accounts as treasurer.
Steve Burt was named winner of the Todd Kaminski Award. The former Weston Elementary School principal continues to serve the community through Meals on Wheels, Greenfield Kiwanis, Greenfield Sertoma, Love INC., Salvation Army and Bradley United Methodist Church.
The event, at Adaggios Banquet Hall and Event Centre, included dinner and live orchestral music by G-CHS students, as well as videos from teachers and students on how classroom grants make a difference in education.
The GCSF was founded in 1986 originally as the Set a Good Example Foundation. The foundation partners with individuals, businesses, foundations, nonprofits, teachers, administrators and the school board to help facilitate programs for students of all ages.
One teacher spoke on Educational Enhancement, or E2, grants and how high school seniors are able to create, design and solve a problem and present a business plan to a Shark Tank-style board.
The foundation’s Wish Upon a Star program offers an opportunity to the community to grant a wish of a teacher, which would provide equipment, technology or curriculum outside of the typical school budget to support students.
Wishes range from markers to bean bag chairs, books to field trips; a board with wishes was available for gala participants to grant that night, or they could use a QR code to give online. Roughly $73,000 was raised through the event.
Mary Buckalew, music teacher at Harris Elementary, shared that she’s applied for five grants and has received drums, ukuleles, bass bars and more for her students to learn with. The instruments help with student engagement, including connecting with students who may struggle academically with other subjects, Buckalew said.
“I just could not have been able to do those things without the wonderful school foundation,” she said.
Ginny Brown, director of the foundation, said after the event that there is still a chance for people to donate to classrooms and grant wishes through gcschoolfoundation.com. The site offers other ways to contribute, such as naming Star Power honorees to recognize a teacher, principal, coach, librarian, bus driver or cafeteria worker.
Brown said attendance was less than what she would have liked but recognized the event was on the same night as Rotary Club’s Steak ‘n Bake event where 13 nonprofits were also asking for time, sponsorships or donations.
“That certainly shows you how amazing our Greenfield community is,” Brown said. “I felt it was the best gala yet, and several people told me the same. Save the date for 2024– Sept. 28!”
