TEAM CAMBODIA CAPTAIN TO BE HONORED — Mike Conn of Lewisburg, history teacher at Milton Area High School, will be receiving an award tonight in Hershey for leading a group of students to succeed in a valiant effort to raise money to build a school in Cambodia.">
By Jeff Shaffer
TEAM CAMBODIA CAPTAIN TO BE HONORED — Mike Conn of Lewisburg, history teacher at Milton Area High School, will be receiving an award tonight in Hershey for leading a group of students to succeed in a valiant effort to raise money to build a school in Cambodia.
MILTON — After going above and beyond as an educator, Milton Area High School history teacher Mike Conn will be honored with a state award this evening in Hershey.
But while the award may include just his name, he’s quick to say it could list so many others who helped to bring an incredible project to fruition.
In the past year, it’s been hard to say Conn’s name without bringing up Team Cambodia, a student group he led that amazingly raised well over $30,000 — in about five months — to build The Milton School in the Kampong Cham Province of Cambodia. It’s believed Milton is the first public school to accomplish such a feat.
He and a delegation of students and adults will be on hand for the school’s dedication in December.
Conn is thankful for the William S. Vincent Award for Excellence in Support of Public Schools he’ll be receiving. He was selected among a diverse and high quality group of nominees, according to The Pennsylvania School Study Council at Penn State University.
Conn first said he’s appreciative of the fact that it’s “bringing Team Cambodia back into the picture. I want people to be aware this is ongoing.”
As Standard Journal last reported, Team Cambodia has successfully raised the funds to build the school, but support is still needed to maintain it in the years ahead. Anyone who wants to support the members of the student delegation headed to Cambodia may do so.
“I’ll certainly accept the award,” Conn said of tonight at the PSSC’s awards ceremony during the Pennsylvania School Board Association’s annual School Leadership Conference kickoff dinner at the Hershey Lodge. “But given the chance to say something, I’ll make it crystal clear this couldn’t have happened without the kids.
“I see the award as a reward for everyone who contributed.”
That includes the community, he added, which responded despite tough economic times.
Able to put his humbleness aside for maybe a minute, Conn said the past year with Team Cambodia took over his life and required a tremendous amount of energy.
“At times I got tired and discouraged, but then a student (or someone from the community) would inspire me,” he said.
As a teacher, Conn knows teens have a lot of tenacity, and given direction can accomplish amazing things, which has clearly been demonstrated.
“This has been the most important project I’ve been involved with in my 40-year career as an educator,” Conn said. “I’ve done things to help people before, but this will be a school that will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of kids each year.”
The history teacher visited Cambodia last year with his daughter and other fellow educators, and left with a heavy heart. He said he saw young, bright children who just need a chance at success their current living conditions, which don’t even offer what Americans consider the most basic necessities, really don’t allow it.
After much enthusiasm from his students, he decided together they would pursue the goal of providing children there with a better life. School district officials quickly got on board and have stayed on since.
“It was one of those things that shined a light on Milton, and gave students an amazing opportunity,” said Dr. William Clark, the school district superintendent. “Hands down it was a no-brainer to nominate him.
“To do this at a high school level is going to the next level,” he said of all the philanthropists.
Bryan Noaker, the high school principal, said he’s “glad Mr. Conn took the lead with this. What he did is create awareness of an issue a world away. It got kids on a common goal, and created a sense among the students and staff in the process.”
“There are so many lessons learned,” said the principal, who’ll be attending the ceremony with Conn, along with fellow social studies teacher Kellie Brouse.
According to Conn, The Milton School is about 80 percent complete, and will be up and running in time for the dedication. The delegation will be visiting southeast Asia from Dec. 4-13. The dedication will be held on the last day of the educational journey that will take them to other nearby areas of the continent.
The location of the school is so remote, the education travel company behind the trip isn’t sure how to get there. A bus will pick the Milton group up and take them into the village from a meeting place.
The entire village will be on hand for the dedication, traditionally paid for by the sponsors. In addition, Conn said they plan to provide a small gift for each of the 220 kids that will use the school in the first season. Students have been going around to collect pledges from those will to donate.
Conn shared he’s been most recently touched and inspired by a 9-year-old girl who recently had a birthday. The little girl, who wrote in a card that she’s from North American and goes to school in Milton, donated $50, which her grandfather had sent her as a gift.
To contribute to Team Cambodia, write a check to: Team Cambodia, c/o Mike Conn, 700 Mahoning St., Milton, Pa. 17847.
Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671
jeff@standard-journal.com
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