A reception was held Monday, March 7th at Cushing Chamber of Commerce to honor those selected for Business After School for the month of February. Each month, two outstanding Cushing High School seniors (one female and one male), one educator and one school support person are selected. February’s honorees were: CHS students Maria Hajahmad and Zach Hebensperger, support person Chris Gardner and teacher Brandie Loftis.
Like most kids her age, Maria Hajahmad enjoys spending time with her friends and family, shopping, reading and just having fun. When asked to brag about herself a little, she said “I’m naturally good at school and responsible and dependable. Also, I’m a good communicator with my peers.” Maria’s future plans include college and continuing on to medical school.
Zach Hebensperger enjoys playing sports – football, wrestling and baseball. Unfortunately, his high school football career was cut short due to a summer injury while trying his hand at steer wrestling. He also enjoys hunting and fishing – and working. “I know – it might be kind of weird, but I like working,” Zach said. “And I’ve really enjoyed school this year.”
Support person Chris Gardner is married to Steve and has two daughters, Jessica (18) and Katrina (15) and one grandson, Cotton Gauge Cross (3 1/2 months). She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cooking and watching crime-related television show such as CSI and Criminal Minds. She is a member of the First Baptist Church where she teaches second grade Sunday School and works with the kindergarten Awana class. She is also secretary of the Cushing Choir Booster Club. Chris said, “I enjoy my job as cafeteria staff at Deep Rock elementary and appreciate and love my Deep Rock family.”
Brandie Loftis is married to Steve and has two sons – Ben and Adam. She enjoys reading, watching baseball and spending time with her family and attends Oak Grove Baptist Church. She’s currently reading the book “Special Operations” by Oliver North. When pressed to answer why, she explained that her brother is a member of the DEA Fast “ALPHA” team and is pictured in the book. She loves Mexican food and if given the opportunity to take a trip that would “cost her nothing” she would go to Hawaii. “There is something about all that beauty that’s enticing,” she said. “I’d go whenever the person paying wanted to send me!” However, if she could spend the day with anyone of her choice, she said, “I’d like to spend one more day with my mother – she was a wonderful woman.” When asked what her greatest joy as a teacher was, she had this to say: “I love the moments when you’ve explained something time and time again and the student’s eyes light up and they say, ‘I get it!’ It’s nice to know that I’ve helped someone learn something.”
Congratulations to last month’s recipients!
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