by Ruhee Singh

The 2009 Crystal Awards selected three Clovis West High School (CWHS) staff members to be nominees in the recent award ceremony.

Each year, the Crystal Awards honors certain staff members who demonstrate the important values that the Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) holds. The Crystal Awards took place at the Paul Shagboian Concert Hall on the Clovis North High School campus February 4.

From a total of 32 nominees for the award, three were selected from CWHS. The CWHS nominations for the award included math instructor Leeanne Branham, school secretary Monique McCoy, and office manager Mary Lou Dion.

Dion, who was nominated for the award by English 10 Honors and Bible Literature teacher Ted Hawkins, feels blessed and honored to be a nomination. “I am deeply humbled and moved by this, especially by the fact that Mr. Hawkins, a teacher I admire and respect so immensely, is the one who nominated me,” Dion said.

McCoy was pleased to have been nominated for the award by school counselor Tracy Fowlkes. “I feel proud to be part of CUSD. It is a privilege to work at CWHS,” McCoy said. “She is hard-working and deserving,” Fowlkes said about McCoy.

Math instructor and co-department chair Leeanne Branham was nominated by CWHS Principal Ben Drati. Branham teaches Advanced Placement Calculus AB, Algebra 2 Honors, and Algebra 2. “I feel honored. I work with dedicated and talented people who all seem really deserving,” she said. Branham feels that the CW staff has helped her be a strong role on campus. “People who care about doing the best in their job helps you do the best,” Branham said. “I feel honored that someone would nominate me.”

Principal Ben Drati who nominated Branham felt that she was very deserving. “Mrs. Branham is a very talented teacher. Most importantly, she cares very deeply; and that is reflected in her willingness to do whatever she has to do to ensure her students’ success,” Drati said. “She embodies what we’re attempting to accomplish here at Clovis West: to maximize and improve the academic and individual improvement of all students.”