The St. Mary's Elementary School in Melrose was bustling with excitement on Wednesday afternoon, March 7 as a ceremony was held to present the third annual diversiCOM Teacher of the Year award to Sue Pundack, a 6th grade teacher at St. Mary's. Students cheered as they discovered that one of their teachers was the recipient of the award that was presented by Dean Mohs, Chief Operating Officer at diversiCOM.
In 2005 diversiCOM extended their current scholarship program to include a diversiCOM Teacher of the Year Award, in an effort to reward excellence in teaching. The diversiCOM Teacher of the Year award is a yearly award presented to a teacher working within the diversiCOM service area, who demonstrates an excellence towards their students. The winning teacher receives a granite trophy that reflects their commitment to teaching and a $2000 cash prize to use as they see fit.
In the fall of 2006 diversiCOM began asking for nominations from area residents. All nominations where then reviewed and scored by a Selection Committee. The committee changes yearly and generally consists of various school administrators and customers from throughout the service area. The nominations for the diversiCOM Teacher of the Year award where scored based on criteria such as individual teaching style, creativity in encouraging student achievement, consistent support of students' growth, and community involvement.
The 2007 diversiCOM teacher of the year winner, Sue Pundsack, is a very special teacher that is described as being a very empathetic listener. Her positive attitude propels students to thoroughly enjoy learning as much as she enjoys teaching. She believes that a positive self-esteem will help any student to be successful academically. Ms Pundsack uses a variety of games in her classroom in an effort to make learning fun while teaching students to work together on challenges that benefit all.
This year's winner has an enormous respect for her colleagues and credits them for teaching her many things. Sue feels that sharing ideas and strategies allows everyone to grow as an educator. She shares her skills and her students with the community by taking them to the local nursing home and pairing students with residents. It is an opportunity for young minds to learn and explore how each generation is different, yet the same. This unique educational opportunity builds a bridge between old and young with lasting effects.
Sue Pundsack is a gifted musician and willingly shares her talents with St. Mary's School as well as the community during her free time. She also spends a lot of her leisure time and summers biking or hiking to raise money for worthy causes such as Multiple Sclerosis, Cystic Fibrosis, AIDS awareness or the environment. She is a good steward of the earth.
diversiCOM Melrose Telephone Company has been in existence for over 75 years.
diversiCOM Mainstreet Communications, LLC has served the city of Sauk Centre since 1998 and diversiCOM Wisper Wireless Solutions, LLC began in 2006. diversiCOM believes that strong communities depend on active residents and businesses and we are willing to do our part to make a difference in the communities that it serves. They have long been a strong supporter of educational opportunities, whether it is internet classes to senior citizens, donating to elementary projects, presenting scholarships to college bound high school seniors or any of the other educational programs.
Since 1985 diversiCOM has been awarding scholarships to area high school seniors in their service areas and since that time have awarded close to $80,000 in memory of their long time owner L.H. Arvig.
 |
The diversiCOM Teacher of the Year 2007 was filmed by SCTV19, a diversiCOM original television station. For copies and airing dates, please visit www.sctv19.com |