HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce the recipient of this month’s Classroom Hero Award, presented by Heartland Credit Union. The Classroom Hero for the month of October is Whitney Aves, Family and Consumer Science teacher at Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy (HCTEA).
Each month, Ad Astra Radio honors a different educator, selected from community nominations, to receive the Classroom Hero Award, along with a “hero” gift basket, courtesy of community partners Heartland Credit Union, Midway Motors of Hutchinson, Stutzman’s Greenhouse, Hutch Putt and The Foto Cowboy.
Mrs. Aves is a Hutchinson native who went to Buhler High School and earned her degree at Kansas State University. She has been teaching a total of ten years. Her first year was spent teaching at a small school in northeast Kansas. Then she moved back to Hutchinson where she has been teaching at HCTEA ever since.
“I was really happy to move back and be a part of the community again,” Aves said.
What Mrs. Aves enjoys most about teaching is how different one day is from the next.
“We’re always doing things and it’s pretty hands-on,” she said. “You never get bored.”
In a Classroom Hero Award nomination, Mrs. Aves was described as patient, kind and intelligent.
“What makes her truly amazing is not just her intelligence, but her heart,” the nominator said. “She cares deeply about our growth—not just academically, but as people. Her words lift us up, and her actions set an example of integrity, compassion, and dedication.”
The nominator added that Mrs. Aves inspires the students to be curious and creative and gives them confidence. “No question is too small, and no student is ever left behind. She believes in each of us, even when we don’t believe in ourselves,” they said.
Other nominators shared that Mrs. Aves cares about each of her students and is a great listener who is able to connect with them and communicate with them properly to build a strong relationship.
The Classroom Hero Award seeks to highlight the hard work and dedication of those on the front lines of our local schools. Nominations can be submitted at https://www.adastraradio.com/classroomhero/.
Ad Astra Radio has been locally owned and operated since 1986 and is proud to be your hometown radio station.