BAMAAR Student of the Month Winners 2008-2009
YANKTON – Seven Yankton High School students made history by becoming the first students to be named BAMAAR Student of the Month, an award given by Yankton High School in conjunction with RTEC.
The award, which received the name BAMAAR because it is sponsored by the building association, manufacturers association and area retailers, recognizes an outstanding student enrolled in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) class at YHS.
Winners during the 2008-2009 school year were:
For winning monthly awards, students received a certificate, T-shirt and a host of cash and prizes donated by local businesses. But the BAMAAR award is bigger than that, according to Bob Evans, a YHS instructor who has been striving to put the pieces of the program together for years.
Evans had started a similar program about 20 years ago when he was teaching at Vermillion High School. He created it because he had so many students who came to his classes and really worked hard. It made him realize that they needed to have some special recognition.
“It (BAMAAR award) is a chance to reward students in CTE classes at YHS who do the extra things,” Evans said. “It gives us a way to show how much business appreciates all their efforts.”
Evans is thrilled that the award has finally become a reality. “Everyone needs their day in the sun,” he said. “If we can encourage students to work harder and be more productive every day, the community ends up with a better citizen.”
Although Evans is responsible for developing the recognition program, he is quick to point out that it wouldn’t have happened if others in the community had not stepped up to the plate.
“I was failing for years to get this one put together again,” he said. “After 10 years of looking for help, the personnel at RTEC jumped in to make it happen.”
Josh Svatos, RTEC’s general manager, credits the whole community with helping make the BAMAAR award a reality. “The community response has been great,” Svatos said, adding that many have donated cash and prizes to recognize and reward the outstanding CTE students.
“Folks in Yankton realize the importance of Career and Tech Ed classes. These courses can be the foundation for these students’ future careers - and business gets that,” Svatos said. “Without Career and Tech Ed classes, we wouldn’t be able to expose students to the different types of careers that we have here in Yankton. It’s all about home growing our workforce.”
Although these seven students hold the honor of earning the first BAMAAR Student of the Month Awards, they won’t be the last. Future students who are enrolled in CTE classes at YHS can be nominated for the award by their CTE instructors. A panel will select monthly winners throughout the school year, with one of those winners to be named BAMAAR Student of the Year. A recognition ceremony will be held to honor the monthly winners near the end of the school year.
Dr. Wayne Kindle, principal at YHS, is pleased with the entire BAMAAR award process. “I can’t think of a better way to recognize a student for their accomplishments,” Kindle said. “This also shows our community and manufacturing employers the great talent we have at YHS.”
Businesses and organizations who contributed cash and prizes for the BAMAAR award winners include: Masonry Components, Applied Engineering, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Kolberg-Pioneer, Shur-Co, A-Ox Welding Supply, Gehl Company, First Dakota National Bank, Gerstner Oil, Karttrax, Pizza Ranch and Walmart as well as several individuals.
