(Le Mars) — The Le Mars School District Foundation, along with the Le Mars Community Alumni Association formally honored the Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell “Teacher of the Year” Wednesday evening during an awards banquet ceremony. Mary Kay Benton was chosen as this year’s “Teacher of the Year”. The banquet also honored those faculty and staff chosen as “School District Employee of the Month” as well as those faculty and staff members that have been employed with the Le Mars Community School District for 25 years. The top five percent of the senior graduating class was also honored during Wednesday evening’s festivities. Glada Koerselman and Dr. Paul Summerside was presented the honor of “Distinguished Alumni”.
“Teacher Of The Year” Mary Kay Benton, Middle School Band Instructor
“Distinguished Alumni”- Glada Koerselman and Dr. Paul Summerside
(Le Mars) — Two people were honored for being Le Mars Community School District’s “Distinguished Alumni” during last evening’s Le Mars Community School Foundation Awards Banquet. Glada Koerselman and Dr. Paul Summerside were the honorees. Summerside, now a medical doctor in Wisconsin reflects back upon his days attending Le Mars Community.
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Summerside says he was influenced by his science teachers for pursuing his career, and he was eager to begin the day by arriving early to school.
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Summerside also credits Glendon Peterson for making physics and advanced algebra fun and enjoyable classes, especially with topics that are often times difficult. Summerside says he was not an easy student while attending Le Mars Community.
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Following his time at Le Mars Community High School, Summerside pursued a career in medicine and now resides in Wisconsin.
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As for being recognized as a Distinguished Alumni, Summerside says he is humbled and honored.
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The Le Mars Community School Alumni Association and the Le Mars Community School District Foundation also honored long-time local journalist, Glada Koerselman as the Le Mars Community Distinguished Alum during an awards banquet held Wednesday evening. Koerselman, who graduated from Le Mars Community in 1947, says it was a neighbor and competitor that got her interested in working for a newspaper.
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Koerselman had served as the editor of the Le Mars Daily Sentinel for several decades. Koerselman was presented with a small bulldog statue for being named Distinguished Alum. She says she remembers the original bulldog mascot named “Beans”
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Koerselman says she worked hard while in school but mainly kept to herself, although she admits to attending many of the school dances. Koerselman says she really liked Le Mars Community School and the building, so much so, she invested a dollar to purchase the building to keep it from the wrecking ball. A short time later what was known as the Le Mars Community High School is now being utilized as the Plymouth County Historical Museum.
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As for being honored, Koerselman says she has mixed feelings about the attention.
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25 Year Service Award Recipients
From left to right: Amy Anderson, Don Ruden, Barry Borchers, Curt Ohrlund,Cliff Collins, and Sheryl Brooks.
“Le Mars Community Employee Of The Month” honorees
From left to right: Carol Vanderloo, Erin Ohrlund, Collette Beitelspacher, Kathy Dalton, and Stephanie Feenstra.
Top Five Percent Of Graduating Seniors
Left to Right: Erin Connor, Joel Haden, Alyson McGrew, Adam Friedenbach,Kennedy Rolfes, A.J. Schroeder, and Alexandria Mullally.
