The Geary Community Schools Foundation hosted their 11th annual Celebration of Teaching Banquet Monday night at the Geary County Convention Center.

During the banquet the Schools Foundation presented 14 teacher scholarships and one para scholarship.

-Devin Family Memorial Teachers Scholarship, established by Mary and Doug Devin: Tyrek Artley, Freshman Success Academy; Kristin Barker, Larry Dixon Center; Deann Hunt, Eisenhower Elementary.

-Ron Shandy Memorial Teachers Scholarship, established by Ron’s children: Crystal Holzer, Junction City Middle School.

-Geary Community Schools Foundation Scholarship: Meredith Boydston, Junction City Middle School; Amanda Brown, Washington Elementary; Reesa Darby, Westwood Elementary; Jennifer Farr, Lincoln Elementary; Amanda Fox, Seitz Elementary; Kirsten Keller, Ware Elementary; Stephanie McNemar, Seitz Elementary; Kristin Reeder, Fort Riley Elementary; Emily Warren, Seitz Elementary; Katie Wendlend, Spring Valley Elementary.

Margie Pinnaire, GCSF President explained that they have given away 88 scholarships since 2003,”these scholarships total over $80,000.”

Starting in 2010 the GCSF began awarding a para scholarship along with the teacher scholarships. This years recipient was Heather Boland, Seitz Elementary.

The Banquets Keynote Speaker was Devin Scillian who is a 1981 JCHS Graduate and now successful journalist, best-selling author, songwriter, musician, and news anchor.

He explained that it wasn’t until he began thinking his trip back to Junction City this week that he realized most of his professional career can be linked to his two years at JCHS.

“So many teachers really encouraged my love of writing, which is really what a journalist is. Mr. (Charles) Voland with music gave me the confidence to be a singer and a musician. It was really funny how much of it came back here,” said Scillian.

Scillian also explained that the seeds for Fibblestax, one of his 16 books, were, “sewn right here,” after receiving a writing assignment in one of his English classes at JCHS.

He has gotten to enjoy a very successful career and at the end of his speech Monday he wanted to thank, “everyone in the Junction City education program for making me who I am today.”