What I meant to say

Editor:

Thank you to Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley nominating committee for the honor of bestowing on me the Dan and Nancy Tredway Memorial Excellence in Teaching Award. Needless to say it was quite a shock. I am rarely speechless but in that moment my heart was full and my mind was not. What I meant to say was thank you to a community that values education, who have trusted the education of their children to us, and who have raised curious and courteous students. The Class of 2026 have very bright and inquisitive graduates in their midst. In a day and age where a plethora of information is available at their finger tips, they still managed to keep me on my toes with inquires such as "If two cations cannot bond, then what is NaK?" "How does blue light effect our eyes/vision and why is it a big deal now?" "Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder but why can't we give it to patients with dementia?" "Is there a one time rabies vaccine?" "Is there a chemical reaction with the paint if a car gets wrapped?" Thanks are not just in order for the community but for the students themselves who continue to think, make connections, ask the good questions, and who are really good at spotting posts and videos that are created with AI and are then suspicious of the content. I am honored, humbled, grateful, and impressed to be among the high caliber of folks in the Gunnison Valley. Thank You.

Jeanene Nelson

Gunnison