Staff recognizes teacher for work in classroom
Celebrating the end of another successful school year, the Hamilton Community Foundation (HCF) announced Aurora High School teacher Brenda Klawonn as the 2024 recipient of the William C. and Delight M. Eloe Award on Friday. The award was presented to Klawonn by HCF Executive Director Tammy Morris at the beginning of the school staff’s Teacher Appreciation gathering on the last day of the school year.
“This year we received more nominations than we ever had in the past and it was really touching to me to see that we got nominations from colleagues, from parents and from students,” Morris said. “It’s really fun to see the nominations especially that come from students and parents that have taken their time to recognize what you are doing.”
Morris explained that Howard Eloe, son of William and Delight, established the award in appreciation of the support provided to their mother and family by the Aurora Public Schools while their father was ill. Howard’s father, William, was the YMCA director in Aurora and coached football, basketball and track. He led Aurora to the first basketball state championship in 1920 and was a founding member of the Aurora Rotary Club. William became ill in 1927 and had to resign from his positions.
Delight Eloe, Howard’s mother, started teaching 3rd and 4th grade at South Elementary School in 1928 to support the family after Bill was confined to home. Delight retired as principal of West Elementary School in 1958. During that time, she cared for her ailing husband and raised five children while maintaining her community and church leadership activities.
“Howard and his children are family who care deeply about the Aurora community and Aurora Public Schools,” Morris said. “This fund was started to honor their parents and recognize an Aurora High School staff who emulates excellence.”
For this year’s award, Hamilton Community Foundation increased the award amount from $1,000 to $2,500 as a special tribute and in memory to the late Howard Eloe.
Without revealing the name of the recipient, Morris commented on the dedication and hard work of Klawonn during her career at Aurora Public Schools.
“This person has a passion for the power of knowledge, brings knowledge into the classroom and shares it with students,” she stated. “Takes a subject area and weaves it into the tapestry of home and community and has a willingness to research and use local resources. (She) inspires students and others to learn and appreciate the stories that impact their community and their lives outside of school as well as within the school.
“(She’s) committed to increasing (her) own knowledge, provides a hands-on learning environment that creates an ‘aha’ moment for students, includes community members and the curriculum to expand learning, is an actual excellent leader and their subject area has used the classroom to impact other programs in the school,” Morris continued. “As well as organizations in the community, service on the school committee community, shares knowledge with fellow colleagues, other departments, community members, other school districts and even schools in other states. Even before students enter the classroom, they are learning.”
“This teacher has been with Aurora Public Schools for 23 years, teaches lessons that impress upon students the importance of their subject matter, pushing students to create experiences and unprecedented opportunities,” Morris continued. “Things such as the quizbowl, Washington, D.C. trips, the Heroes and Huskies program and the sign above the door says it all, ‘You’re here to learn.’ Please help me congratulate the 2024 receipt of the William and Delight Eloe Award for inspirational academic leadership, Brenda Klawonn.”
As Klawonn accepted the award from Morris she received a standing ovation from her fellow educators and then addressed the staff with heartfelt gratitude.
“Thank you guys for your support over the years,” Klawonn stated. “Thank you, Doug (Kittle). I walk into his office to say, ‘Hey I’ve got an idea,’ and he just tells me ‘What are you going to call it?’ I appreciate all that. I’m going to Ireland and Scotland so I’m going to spend this money.”
Prior to announcing the award, Morris expressed her appreciation for the entire staff at Aurora Public Schools.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be here,” Morris began. “I am blown away by what all of you do with students every day and what the school district does here in Aurora. I really appreciate and commend all of you for the work that you do.”
In addition to presenting the Eloe Award, Morris commented on the success HCF had this year in providing scholarships for students throughout Hamilton County.
“Our first fund of the foundation was actually a scholarship fund in 1965,” Morris shared. “Today, we have 116 scholarship funds. This year, the total that we awarded was $383,750, which is the most we’ve ever done and not only is it the most we’ve ever done, but every single student who applied for a scholarship this year got one and that’s tremendous.”
The Eloe Award is presented annually and nominations for next year will be open Feb. 1 to March 15. Nominations are accepted from community members, parents, students and school colleagues. The list of former recipients and Eloe Award videos can be found on HCF’s website at hcfne.org/eloe-award.
For additional information, contact the HCF.