The Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. believes that the Longview Independent School District delivers excellence to its students, and excellence is achieved because of the dedicated, nurturing people who touch the lives of students every day.  To honor the profession, the Longview ISD Foundation sponsored the 2009 Lamplighter Awards, the ninth annual fundraising educator tribute dinner event, on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 6:30 PM at Pinecrest Country Club. 

Based on an idea inspired by the children’s book My Great-Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston, this fundraising event honors students and campus personnel (teachers, principals, counselors, librarians, teachers’ aides, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, or nurses) who have touched the lives of these students.  Students read My Great-Aunt Arizona and wrote essays about a person from their LISD campus or a person who has retired from their LISD campus who has been special to them like Great-Aunt Arizona, a teacher, was special to Gloria Houston, the book’s author. 

At the banquet, Gene Jordan, Jr. and Celia Elkins, this year’s emcees, read portions of the students’ essays about the honorees while both student and educator were presented.  Each student and honoree received a Lamplighter Award donated by John D. Barbe Graduate Sales.

This year at the banquet the Foundation also awarded the seventh annual Cornerstone Award to Jane and Doug Cox, retired LISD first grade teacher and coach and athletic director, respectively.  Each year this award honors a retired LISD employee who has been instrumental in the tradition of success of Longview ISD.

With the Lamplighter Awards, the Longview ISD Foundation pays tribute to students and those who are special to them in their school lives and invites the community to celebrate Longview ISD and the people who make it a success.  Through this event, the Longview ISD Foundation also raises funds for the annual Grants-to-Teachers Program and the Campus Initiative Grant through the generosity of Heart of the Community, Champion, Sustainer, Advocate, Benefactor and Friend sponsors. 

The Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. sincerely thanks the sponsors for the 2009 Lamplighter Awards banquet.