Freedom has engaged in a new award activity. For the first time, Freedom faculty will be recognized for going above and beyond for their students through the Honoring Outstanding Professional Educators (HOPE) Awards. “Teachers are only required to be here from 7:25 to 2:45, but there are so many people here that do so much more than that,” Assistant Principal Frank Hernandez said. The HOPE award includes a strict selection process with students at the forefront of the choices. Students filled out applications for the teacher, counselor, coach or other staff member that has inspired them. Hernandez made the focus of the HOPE Awards clear “It’s more of an inspiration award,” Hernandez said “where they’ve inspired students to do better than they would do without [them].” The student body tied in their decisions, voting equally for Mr. Brian Wargo and Mr. Ed Majors. Students were clear about their decisions, eloquently describing their favorite teachers on their application forms. Hernandez, one of the administrators to read all of the applications, summarized the basic opinions for each. Majors: [Students] know with Mr. Majors that he’s a genuinely kind person. He takes the foundations of math and he helps kids understand the concepts by working from the ground up. Wargo: He’s encouraged a lot of kids throughout the years to go on to fields like engineering and into different fields within the sciences. They see that he’ll generally do whatever he needs to do to help them understand physics, to understand the concepts behind physics, and feel like they can succeed in physics. Honestly, he is an excellent teacher and helps me understand concepts that I didn’t think I would understand. Also, he is really nice,” Sophomore Andrew Baker said. “I remember not understanding much about Math when I started 10th Grade Honors Algebra II. I had barely scraped through Geometry, Algebra I, and wasn’t comfortable with math at all. Then Mr. Majors taught me how to understand math and do it easier and better. I’m really thankful for his help and support,” Sophomore Nathan James said. “He never gives up on a student. If you take his class he will change the way you think. He always is a help with my work,” Junior Sam Deane said. “He strives to help everyone. He doesn’t put anyone down and tries to make everyone their best. He is single handedly the best teacher I have in my life. I have learned more from him in two nine weeks than I have in the last 10 years of my life,” Junior Andrew Ward said.