Chad Rizner recently won the 2017 Warren E. Shull National High School Adviser of the Year award in recognition of his service as student council adviser at Jefferson City High School.
The award was presented to Rizner during this year's National Association of Student Councils National Conference in Derry, New Hampshire.
"It's kind of an affirmation of all the work that the kids and advisers do at the high school," Rizner said.
A 1991 Jay alumnus, he teaches sociology, U.S. history and leadership teacher at JCHS.
The National Association of Student Councils (NASC) cited in its news release several programs that came together under Rizner's tutelage that "provided activities to involve the community, improve school climate and address the needs of local families through service." They included:
- Salute to Service Week to serve veterans
- Senior Prom
- Annual volunteer work council members with Special Olympics, and hosting a Halloween night for children to have a safe place to trick-or-treat
- Community Leaders Breakfast to bring school, city, county and state elected officials together for a meal catered by the high school's culinary arts program.
Rizner said he's most proud of the dedication of everyone involved.
"It's weird to be recognized in a lot of ways for the work of others, being one of the leaders of the kids that do all the work," he said.
He, co-advises the Student Council with Rhiannon McKee and Elizabeth Hood. "We work hard to provide a good place for kids to go to school," he said.
He was an active Student Council member during his time in high school. He now serves on the Missouri Association of Student Councils Board and in other staffing roles for the state association. He's also been involved in national conferences.
Rizner has been recognized previously by the state association at the district and state levels as adviser of the year. He was a finalist for the Jefferson City school district's teacher of the year in 2015, and in 2016 was named a VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher by the local post.
JCHS Principal Robert James said in the NASC news release, Rizner "is the perfect model of character for our Jays; he is caring, honest, reliable, humble and most of all perseverant."
Carson Ridgeway, JCHS 2016-17 student body president, said in the news release, "Coach Rizner will do anything for members of our Student Council, from writing countless recommendations to driving an hour to help with a broken-down car."
Rizner will still be involved in Student Council this coming school year, but he will also be the assistant activities director at JCHS.