Teacher awarded by radio station

Kim Orwig, second-grade teacher at Krout Elementary School in Tiffin, received a Teacher of the Month Award Thursday from radio station 101.5 The River. Mike Houck from 101.5 and Tony Thiros, marketing representative for Toft's Ice Cream, presented Orwig the award in her classroom Thursday, which consisted of a $100 gift card to ABC Center in Toledo for school supplies and a Toft's ice cream party for her excited students. Alicia Weninger, parent of a current and former student of Orwig's, was on hand to watch Orwig receive her award. Weninger submitted the initial nomination for Orwig when she heard about the contest on 101.5. "You have to submit a letter about why you want to nominate them," Weninger said. "My son, Conner, has her this year, and my daughter, Chloe, had her last year, and she's just a phenomenal woman. And so I wrote it up, and then she got selected, and once you write up your nomination you can post it to your Facebook page and you can tell other people to nominate her as well." Briana Ringenbach, whose son, Ethan, also is in Orwig's class, seconded Weninger's nomination once she saw it on Facebook and wrote a second letter in support. Ringenbach also was in the classroom Thursday when Orwig received the award. "I was hoping that she would get full recognition for the award," Ringenbach said. "It's great that she got nominated and then chosen through 101.5, but I wanted all of Tiffin to know just how wonderful a teacher she is." Orwig has been teaching at Krout Elementary School for 30 years. She said her interest in teaching began when she was 16 years old and a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA. "Seeing a little girl wiggling with excitement as she successfully floated on her back for the very first time made a lasting impression," she said. "I knew I wanted to be a part of seeing students excited about learning." 101.5's award exists via a partnership between the station, Toft's Ice Cream and ABC Center, who have been honoring teachers in the Northwest Ohio and Southwest Michigan regions for 15 years. Thiros has been working with the Teacher of the Month contest since its inception and explained the process of choosing a teacher each month. "We have to get quite a few nominations down to about 10 or 15," he said. "And then we sit down as a group and see which nomination resonates with us. Mrs. Orwig is a teacher that has gone above and beyond the duties of a teacher, so we wanted to honor her." Thiros said what struck him about Orwig's nomination letters was her clear dedication to her students' success. "She was reaching out to the families of her students, paying personal visits to them, so that she could understand the student and the family and the home from which they're coming. That gave her an edge in the contest," he said. "Also, Mrs. Orwig has provided Thanksgiving meals for her class out of her own pocket. That's impressive," Thiros added. When asked what school supplies she would buy with her gift certificate, Orwig said she didn't know yet, but that whatever it is, "it will be something inconsumable, so my class can share it with others."