Page 6 Thursday, October 23, 2014 The Chronicle-News Trinidad, Colorado

EducationTRINIDAD STATE

Three employees honored by their peers at TSJCBy Greg BoyceSpecial to The Chronicle-News

Three employees have been chosen for honors by their peers at Trinidad State Junior College.

Chosen as Faculty Member of the Year was Judy MacLaren. She’s a math and chemistry

professor at Trinidad State’s Trinidad Cam-pus. She’s been a full time instructor since 1991. Before that she taught math and science at the high school level. “I like the interaction I have with the stu-dents,” said MacLar-en. “I enjoy when I see understanding in their faces.” In addition to teaching, MacLaren coordi-nates the Upward Bound Science and Math program in the summer at Trin-idad State.

In the Adminis-trative/Profession-al/Technical catego-ry Darci Duran was selected to be hon-ored by co-workers. She came to work on the Valley Cam-pus in Alamosa in November of 2012 as Distance Learning

Specialist. Before that she worked at Pueblo Community College and Eastern Wyoming College. “I have a passion for how technology can enhance learning and I have the opportu-nity to actively pursue my passion projects at TSJC,” said Duran. “I feel supported and in-spired by the faculty, staff and students. This has become my second family.”

Chosen by his peers as top Classified Em-ployee of the year is Campus Maintenance Director Josh Jones. Jones came to the Val-ley Campus in Alamosa in November of 2012 from Yes! Communities of Colorado Springs.

“What makes Trinidad State so special is the fact that we have so many hard work-ing people that will do whatever it takes to persevere and insure that we are giving the best possible foundation for generations to come,” said Jones. “The fact that everyone in the school cares about others makes Trini-dad State an employer like no other.”

Photos courtesy of TSJCClockwise from above, Josh Jones, Judy MacLaren and Darci Duran were recently honored by their peers at Trinidad State.

Trinidad is truly a special townSally J. RuybalidSpecial to the Chronicle

On Friday, October 10, 2014, Trinidad High School burned a Homecoming bonfire for the first time since 1988, from what I understand. It had been over twenty years since the last one.

Strolling through the stands, many people, some strangers, were very congratulatory on a job well done. Their thoughtfulness is appreciated, but it wasn’t just one person who brought this all together. As far as myself, I only made phone calls, shook hands, built a pirate dummy and wrote letters. Seeing it now, I barely did anything, in actuality this amaz-ing community I live in did every-thing.

I would first and foremost like to extend my thanks to City Fire Chief Tim Howard. He took at least fifty phone calls from me and approved this entire bonfire, even coming to the school on his lunch break to help figure out a spot for the fire. The Chief’s patience with me was out-standing, and his approval meant everything.

The Trinidad City Fire department and its volunteers are a blessing. Thank you to “Gar-cia,” “Max,” and “Sandoval” — all gentlemen who answered the phone and my infinite num-

ber of questions. The bonfire had originally been scheduled for Thursday, October 9, but because of inclement weather, we had to post-pone it. Twice, Fire Captain Cook, the captain on duty that night, received phone calls and, like Chief Howard, maintained his patience with me. The next night, the firemen and vol-unteers came out to Miner field for the bonfire. Forgive me if I fail to mention your name, as there were some whose names I didn’t catch, but Mr. Lucas, Captain Trammel, Captain

Bacharach, and several others were present at the burn.

The Trinidad Ambulance District was also present with Mr. Gabe Moreno, Ms. Ange-lina Molena and others.

The dedication and hard work of these esteemed men and women are the reasons Trinidad is such a safe town to live in.

The Trinidad High School students and staff are just as great.

Principal George Dasko, Vice Principal Rebecca Web-ber, and Superintendent Scott Mader all tolerated my con-stant presence in their offices

and were more than willing to sign anything that helped set up this bonfire.

The maintenance crew at Trinidad High School is equally as awesome. They painted down a circle for the fire, helped out the Fire Chief and me, put tarps over the woodpile and performed numerous other tasks that were crucial details in this event. They were aided by the Trinidad Correctional Facility of the

Colorado Department of Corrections.The people at Trinidad High are truly a fan-

tastic crowd. They supportive from the begin-ning to the end, even naming the pirate dum-my that was eventually tossed into the flames. The pirate’s name was Captain Saint Charred.

The students were there for everything, and understood that first night when plans for everything fell apart. They were more than willing to publicize on various social media websites about the fire shortly after the hope-ful announcement the next day during school.

Thank you to the students in the art classes that whipped up some quick posters under the direction of substitute teacher Mrs. Eleanor Cass. The posters were later placed on floats for the parade. Special thanks to the “spon-taneous army” and science teacher Mr. Eric Vialpando for moving those posters. Mr. Carl Skalko of the auto shop deserves a thank you, too.

I would also like to reach out to the busi-nesses that donated or offered to donate wood and wood pallets. The cooperation of Safeway, Walmart, and Sawaya’s Wholesale is so great-ly appreciated.

Thank you to the Las Animas County Commissioners, Trinidad School District #1 School Board, Trinidad City Council, Mayor Joe Reorda, Interim City Manager Audra Gar-rett, and City Attorney Les Downs for all lis-tening to me and helping out.

Mr. Louis Rino, head of the Trinidad High School English department, deserves some recognition, for he proofread my original let-ter to authorities some eight, or more, times within six hours. He is another patient man I cannot forget to mention.

My parents, Frank and Sarah Jane Ruy-

balid, helped out immensely. They helped load and transport firewood, place tarps on the pile, and provided encouragement throughout the entire process. Without them, nothing would have happened.

Sheriff James Casias was the man who, even on off-duty hours, met with me and en-couraged me to go through with the bonfire. His efforts must not go unnoticed.

The Trinidad Chronicle~News published my letters and, like the Fire Department, took several phone calls. They provided extensive coverage of everything that had to do with Trinidad High and its Homecoming festivities.

KCRT and KSPK were able to publicize at the spur of the moment after everything got re-approved. These broadcasters and their radio stations are truly notable.

Finally, I would like to say an enormous thank you to Trinidad. The citizens, the alum-ni, and the students of all ages arrived and cheered on as the first flames were ignited. They read my letters, answered my call, and showed their support.

We haven’t had the privilege of a bonfire since 1988. Twenty-six years and countless generations later, everyone helped, and in a sense, made history. If one thinks about it, it has been a year more than a fourth of a cen-tury since a bonfire has been burned at Trini-dad High School. This is a memory that will forever live within our hearts and our minds.

Though I may have forgotten to mention some people’s name in this letter, know that you were just as important as everyone else. I may have forgotten you in this letter, but I will never forget you as a person.

Trinidad is the reason students thrive the way we do.

AGUILAR HONORSStudents of the Week for October 20, 2014

Each week at Aguilar Elementary School, teachers choose a student who exhibits the characteristics of the school’s Positive Behavior Incentive Support (PBIS) matrix.

The characteristics are: Respect, Order, Attitude, Responsibility and Safety (ROARS). Students who are chosen may invite two guests from home to have lunch with them on

Thursday and are treated to an ice cream dessert after lunch. Students are chosen by who has earned the most “High Five Tickets” or “Wildcat Cards” for demonstrating excellent behavior. Congratulations to our Students of the Week!

Photos courtesy of the Aguilar School DistrictPreschool: Gracie Gomez, Kindergarten: Gracie Holloway, 2nd Grade: Jayden Baudino, 3rd Grade: Savanna Saladrigas, 4th Grade: Samaira Quintero, and 6th Grade: Isaiah Coca.

Photos by Steve Block / Chronicle-News

Holy Trinity Academy kids celebrate with funIt was Movie Characters Costume Day at Holy Trinity Academy Tuesday during the school’s Homecoming Week. From left to right, above, are Lorenzo Lucero, Logan Gates, Connor Carter, Joseph Gutierrez, Jaxon Cannon and Briella Phelan. On a sun-splashed day during Homecoming Week, these Holy Trinity Academy were all dolled up as movie characters. Sofia Sinda, left, and Ally Santistevan, below, were having fun on the playground swings.

HOMECOMING WEEK AT HTA

Sally J. Ruybalid