Glacier High teachers up for national spirit award

Glacier High School head football coach Grady Bennett and French teacher Stephanie Hill and are finalists in the national Varsity Brands School Spirit Awards and could each win $3,000.

Bennett is one of 12 finalists up for the Most Spirited Coach award. The award recognizes a coach with a with a history of success. “This coach recognizes the link between athletic involvement and student achievement, and therefore encourages both academic excellence and good character. This coach also prioritizes sportsmanship, both on and off the playing field,” according to Varsity Brands.

Bennett has been a teacher and coach for 25 years. On the field, Bennett guided Glacier to its first Class AA football championship in 2014, finishing with a 13-0 record. The Wolfpack were state runners-up in 2013 and 2016.

Bennett learned he was a finalist during a staff meeting and hadn’t been completely aware he was being nominated for the award.

“I knew something was going on, but I didn’t know what it was,” Bennett said.

“There are so many people that have helped me achieve everything I’ve done. I think of all the great coaches that I’ve had. It’s so hard to hard to win any individual recognition when so many coaches have made it possible for me,” he said.

Hill is one of 10 finalists up for the Most Spirited Teacher award. Varsity Brands describes this teacher as one who “understands that achievement means more than a number in a gradebook. It means helping students discover their strengths and passions. Students feel this teacher cares about them both academically and personally. This teacher has a genuine love and loyalty for his/her school and supports it in every way possible.”

Hill has taught for 10 years, six of them at Glacier. In addition to teaching, Hill serves as Glacier’s international languages activities coordinator and advisor for the French Club and the French National Honor Society.

“I have the best kids in the world,” Hill said as a reason for being spirited.

While Hill was aware she had been nominated, she was shocked to learn of her finalist status.

“Teaching is a group effort,” Hill said. “You have the support of parents, the support of the community and support of kids.”

Bennett and Hill were nominated by Glacier Assistant Principal and Activities Director Mark Dennehy and Glacier Principal Callie Langohr, respectively. To enter the contest, entrants submitted essays about the nominees accompanied by letters of recommendation and other supporting documentation.

A panel of judges will select the winners who will be announced May 12 during the School Spirit Awards Show in Florida.

This is not the first time Glacier has entered the School Spirit Awards competition. In 2017, Glacier entered for the first time and won the Most Memorable High School Graduation award and $10,000.

For more information visit https://www.varsitybrands.com.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.