LETTERS: HONORED EDUCATOR SAYS THANK YOU

To the editor:

I am very proud and humble to say that I was one of the recent Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce educators of the year, and I must publicly thank everyone involved in this outstanding recognition program. The chamber has created an experience for educators in Cape Girardeau that really rewards them for their hard work and contributions to serving the youth of our community. They make the winners feel very special, and their recognition banquet is a truly memorable event for everyone involved. The chamber and its education committee, spearheaded by Nancy Bray, deserve big pats on the back and a big thanks for all that they do for our community and education.

Personally, this experience will definitely be one of the highlights of my life and teaching career. I correlate it with the milestones of marriage and motherhood, because it truly is a high peak in one's teaching career. The caring and warmth of others has been overwhelming, and I will cherish every moment since I received that phone call from Nancy Bray saying, "Congratulations, you are a winner." Letters, cards and phone calls from past students and their parents, flowers, balloons and many words of praise have taken my spirit to new heights to achievement. This entire experience proves the adages, "What you give away within yourself comes back to you 10 times over." The banquet truly was like the Academy Awards of teaching (to borrow the term of a fellow recipient). Thanks for a wonderful evening, an exhilarating experience of a lifetime and thanks most of all for caring about educators in our community. We have many hardworking, dedicated and caring people in education in Cape Girardeau, and they all deserve accolades.

Hats off to the chamber and the many people involved in this wonderful program. You have made a difference in my life, and I feel truly blessed to have been chosen as a recipient this year. A popular salute in the Spanish language is, "Deseo salud, dinero y amor para ti y tiempo para gozarlos." It means, "I wish you health, wealth and love and time to enjoy them." This is my wish for everyone involved in this outstanding program of recognition. Thanks again for the wonderful memories. I will cherish them always. Muchisimas gracias a todos.

DONNA ELLIS

Cape Girardeau