[Al Skierkiewicz]

Om,
The Woodie Flowers Award is one of the best ways to recognize one of your mentors. However, too few teams make the attempt. The intended recipient should be chosen by the students who know mentors. While some teams nominate the same mentor, we have no hard and fast rule. The students decide. At our final meeting of the year in May, the nominee is recognized and given a framed copy of the award submission. The choice for Champs is again made by the students from those mentors who have already been awarded the WFFA at our regional. I believe that should one mentor from our team receive the award this season, he/she will be the Champs nominee by default. Again there is no hard and fast rule on this either.

I would be remiss if I didn't remind everyone that all teams need to try and recognize one of their mentors, teachers or team adults that meet the criteria. There is no excuse for missing this opportunity to recognize someone who has made a difference in your life or those of past team members. When I was so honored, I was filled with emotion knowing that the students on my team felt I deserved such a high honor. Receiving that recognition was more important than almost anything in my life because of the students from which it came. Take the time to choose a mentor, write the essay and send it out. It is a small sacrifice on your part that brings about a significant event in the life of your mentor.