I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts about Mr. Durbahn, my former shop teacher from nearly 35 years ago. While the details have faded with time, I still remember how much I enjoyed his class and how it has continued to influence me. Sometimes I catch myself wondering why I didn’t continue with shop in high school—I suppose back then, I felt the pressure to load up on math and science classes to help with college admissions. While those classes certainly served their purpose, the practical skills I learned in shop have proven to be ones I value for a lifetime.

Pursuing woodworking remains high on my bucket list, a passion I attribute partly to my Grandpa’s skill in the craft, but also to Mr. Durbahn’s enthusiasm and dedication as a teacher. It was always clear to me that he wasn’t just there for a paycheck—he genuinely loved what he was teaching, and he cared deeply about sharing that excitement with us, even when we were just a group of sometimes clueless middle schoolers. His patience was remarkable; I can’t recall a single moment when he lost his temper, no matter the chaos we might have created.

I hope to one day fulfill my goal of learning more woodworking and make Mr. Durbahn proud. He truly made a lasting impression, and I’m grateful for the example he set as a teacher. To this day, I still use the piggy bank (pictured below) I made in his class, a small but meaningful reminder of those formative experiences.

Thank you for letting me share these memories. Mr. Durbahn was a wonderful teacher whom I will never forget and is truly deserving of this award.