The National Honor Society presented teachers Dave Yirak, Stefanie Rodarte-Suto and counselor Robin Terry with student nominated Bell Awards at the spring ceremony April 25.

Bell Awards are given to teachers who demonstrate the values of National Honor Society: scholarship, service, leadership and character. Recipients were nominated by members of National Honor Society and narrowed down to three finalists. Senior Jenna Terry nominated her mother, Robin Terry.

“She has done so much for Canyon High School,” Terry said. “She will drop everything to help a student, whether there is a scheduling issue, a family issue or a personal issue.”

Terry said her mother’s hard work and devotion to individual students’ needs have influenced and encouraged students and faculty.

“She wants kids to feel important and loved,” Terry said. “She has impacted the school in a positive way by instilling confidence in students that may not have any confidence.”

Senior Erin Westermann nominated theater teacher Dave Yirak. Yirak taught Westermann in theater arts class and directed her in the all-school musical and the one act play. Westermann said Yirak builds confidence in students by encouraging them out of their comfort zones and making each of them feel important.

“He makes every person feel individually needed,” Westermann said. “He has changed me as a person, and I know he affects other people as well. I was just on a platform where I was able to give him the recognition he deserves.”

Westermann said teacher recognition is often overshadowed in high school, and she appreciated the opportunity to recognize Yirak for his impactful teaching.

“There are so many teachers who have shaped me,” Westermann said. “I just wish I could give more Bell Awards. Students really do care about their teachers, and they really do impact us positively and permanently.”

Senior Quade Salazar nominated speech and debate teacher Stefanie Rodarte-Suto. Salazar worked with Suto on the UIL speech and debate team. Salazar said he values his relationship with Suto as more than a coach.

“She is not only willing to be my teacher and my debate coach, she is also willing to be my friend and be there when I need her,” Salazar said. “She has been consistently on my side through high school.”

Salazar said Rodarte-Suto also deserves recognition for teaching her students valuable life lessons and showing concern for their lives after high school.

“Any student that has been involved in speech and debate can tell you Mrs. Rodarte-Suto educates her students outside of just her subject,” Salazar said. “The teachers who received Bell Awards are involved and concerned with their students’ lives beyond high school. They teach about life.”

Salazar said he considered the three recipients of this year’s Bell Awards stand out as great teachers, but they are not the only teachers at Canyon High School who deserve recognition.

“There are a lot of teachers who do not necessarily get recognized for all the work they put in,” Salazar said. “Certain teachers are not recognized as often as others, but that does not mean they have any less of an impact on students.”