02 Broadcaster Press June 3, 2014 www.broadcasteronline.com Meet Natasha Gault By David Lias david.lias@plaintalk.net Natasha Gault is no stranger to the Vermillion Middle School science students she helped inspire this last school year, and during the May 17 Vermillion High School commencement ceremony, she became a bit more well known among the friends and family of graduates in attendance. Natasha has been named Vermillion School District’s Teacher of the Year. She received the award during a special presentation held at the VHS graduation ceremony. “Natasha Gault is a highly motivated and conscientious teacher. Her greatest strengths as a teacher are her ability to personalize her instruction to meet the needs of each student and to instill a desire to learn in every child,” said Vermillion School Board President Chris Esping shortly before presenting Natasha with her award. “She accomplishes all of this while maintaining high expectations and maintaining positive, caring relationships with her students. “Her dedication and hard work were recently on display as she guided her eighth grade science team to a national finalist position in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest,” Chris said. “This took a tremendous amount of planning, formal and informal communication, research, and time in order to become one of the 15 finalists in the nation.” “Each year, I’ve been trying to find an alternative and challenging opportunity for students to do more than they normally would do in the classroom,” Natasha said in an interview earlier this year, shortly before her class achieved national finalist status in the Samsung contest. “This year, in doing some research, I happened to read about the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, and it looked like an opportunity that would work for us – it actually would work for any community, because we all have issues that we need to address,” she said. Natasha’s students decided to focus on the problem that Asian Carp pose in South Dakota waters, particularly the Missouri River. The students’ efforts included becoming familiar with the Missouri River itself, and identifying the problems Asian carp may pose to it. Their work during the last school year also included settling on viable solutions to either solve that problem or hopefully alleviate it should it occur. Their hard work Vermillion School Board President Chris Esping presents Natasha Gault with her Vermillion School District Teacher of the Year award during VHS commencement ceremonies, held May 17 in the DakotaDome. (Photo by Travis Gulbrandson) garnered the attention of the Samsung contest officials. Out of nearly 2,400 applications from across the nation, Vermillion Middle School was chosen in late 2013 to represent the state of South Dakota as 1 of 51 state finalists. This led the students to concentrate on the next step of their project – public awareness. They produced a 3-minute video that concisely describes the risks Asian carp pose to the Missouri, and the steps that can be taken to minimize those risks. The young people also went public with their work, reaching out to civic leaders to explain the problem, their research, their proposed solutions, and what they’ve learned along the way. During the last school, as her students’ focused on not only solutions to the Asian Carp problem but also on ways to raise public awareness, Natasha maintained a firm conviction that they would achieve their goals. “Honestly, I didn’t doubt it at all, “ Natasha said last February, reflecting on her students’ chances of being top winners in the Samsung contest. “I hoped for this, and tried to arrange every opportunity to give, to have them be in that position, and while I’m pleased, I’m not surprised. These students are capable of things we can’t even imagine. If we look back to five years ago, I knew that to be true. I knew that in my class, personally, I wasn’t doing enough for them in the aspect of just an ordinary classroom experience. Truly, in my heart, I knew that they were capable of more, and I think that it is my job as a teacher to give those students the opportunity to do more and to really test what they are capable of. “They’re smart, you Hartington Tree LLC TREE TRIMMING, REMOVALS & TRANSPLANTING TREES FOR SALE EVERGREEN • SHADE • ORNAMENTAL Yankton 605-260-1490 Hartington 402-254-6710 Serving Southeast SD & Northeast NE for 20 Years just have to give them the opportunities to show all of us what they can do. It’s something amazing to be a part of this as a teacher. To see these 10 students, for example, who presented to the city council and the school board, and the amount of work that they put in has really been impressive,” she said. “I hope that they walk away not disappointed in whatever the outcome will be. I’ve tried to get this message to them as clear as I can: it doesn’t matter if we win this contest or not. What you have done is much more than most people do. You have become passionate about a subject. You have educated yourself about a subject, and you have taken it that one, next step, where you’ve shared your education and your passion with your community in order to make a difference.” Natasha earned all her degrees from the University of South Dakota, which include – a bachelor degree in elementary education, master and specialist degrees in school administration, and a juris doctorate degree. She has served the Vermillion School District for seven years as middle school science teacher. Kent & Kyle Hochstein • Licensed Arborists www.hartingtontree.com CLAY COUNTY, SD ACREAGE 17 ACRES +/- RIVERSIDE TOWNSHIP Saturday June 21, 2014 10:30 AM We will sell the following real estate at public auction located from at 45913 299th St Centerville, SD or from Beresford SD 11 ½ miles west on SD Hwy 46 and 2 miles south on 459th Ave (Frog Creek Rd) and 1/8 mile east on 299th St, south side of road or from Irene, SD 6 ½ miles east on SD Hwy 46 and 2 miles south of 459th Ave (Frog Creek Rd) and 1/8 mile east on 299th St, south side of road. Auctioneers Note: Rarely does a person have an opportunity to purchase an acreage with improvements that must be seen to be appreciated. If you are looking for a farming operation base or peaceful, quiet country living, contact an auctioneer for your personal showing. The setting includes a well established shelter belt with many beautiful evergreens, large 2 story completely remodeled country home with a wraparound porch and three season room, 2 machine sheds, grain storage and several other outbuildings. For more information and pictures visit our website at www.westraatkins.com. Legal Description: Acreage, Buildings, 17 +/- Acres, 17-95-52 Clay County, SD to be surveyed. This beautifully landscaped acreage has a winding driveway lined by evergreens leading to a majestic two story home that has been completely remodeled, hardwood ?oors (main ?oor), 2642 ?nished sq ft, 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, three season room, large country kitchen, dining room, living room, piano room, of?ce, family room (basement), wraparound porch, 2nd story balcony, new furnace (2012), heat pump/AC, detached 3 car garage, 2009 60’ x 75’steel machine shed/cement, 54’ x 90’ machine shed/shop(cement), Butler 6200 bushel dryer bin/auger, 25,000 bushel 36’ x48’ wooden granary, plus several other smaller outbuildings, rural water. Lots of room to enjoy country living. A hard surface road borders the west boundary. Taxes: TBD. Note: A 14’x16’ portable utility shed to be moved will be auctioned at the conclusion of the real estate sale. TERMS: 15% nonrefundable down payment day of sale with the balance due at closing on or before Aug 15, 2014 with possession at closing. Title insurance and closing costs split 50/50 between buyer and seller. 2013 taxes due in 2014 to be paid by the seller. 2014 taxes dues in 2015 prorated to date of closing. The acres in this property are to be understood to be “more or less”. The sellers do not warranty or guarantee that the existing fences lie on the true and correct boundary and new fencing, if any, will be the responsibility of the purchaser pursuant to SD statutes. The property is sold in as is condition and as a cash sale with no ?nancing contingency. Sold subject to existing easements, restrictions, reservations, or highway of record, if any. Information is deemed to be correct but it is not guaranteed. All prospective buyers are encouraged to inspect the property and verify all data provided. Statements made the day of sale take precedence over all written advertising. Real Estate licensees are agents for the seller. Sold subject to con?rmation of owner. Gary and Julie Peterson, Owners Joel R Westra, Broker, Beresford, SD 605-310-6941 Pete Atkins, Broker Associate, Tea, SD 605-351-9847 Joel A Westra, Broker Associate, Chancellor, SD 605-957-5222 Phil Eggers, Broker Associate, Renner, SD 605-351-5438