Golden Apple: Patrick Killeen

Terre Haute South teacher Patrick Killeen made it a class project to tell us his story.

To say the pandemic has thrown us all sorts of curve balls would probably be an understatement.

For instance...we didn't get to present our golden apple awards last april like we normally do.

Schools were shut down.

We are presenting them this week...but a little differently.

This time...we weren't allowed in the schools to get video of our winners teaching and interacting with their students.

Instead of that being a problem though..one of our outstanding eductors made it a challenge.

Today's golden apple award winner made it a class project to help us tell his story.

////////// presentatio} nat..."i believe that every day when you wake up, you should think to yourself what great thing can i accomplish today?"

Patrick killeen's classroom at terre haute south vigo high school is like no other.

It's called the "southside media cafe".

Set up like a 50's diner with all kinds of media memorabilia.

From 8-track players to digital recorders.

A live d-j booth...t-v news set...and photography studio.

And a teacher who's been a friend to the students here for nearly 30 years.

Clip 1}...a place to maybe form some new dreams about what they dreams about what they might want to do in the future... killeen teaches radio, television, graphic design and yearbook layout at south.

A place where some students litterally find their voice.

Na}...this is wsbr south braves radio where we've got the rock to knock your socks off... many others find a safe, calm environment where they feel loved.

Clip }...i had a girl a couple of years ago come in and tell me ya know mr. killeen this is the only room where i feel loved.

Gosh that broke my heart.

But it's important work that we do.

That positive reinforcement is evident from the very entrance of the classroom.

A big screen says "welcome to the southside caé where everyone if brilliant".

Clip 1}...i honestly believe every student that comes in here is brilliant in one way or another.

Sad part is that some of them may never have heard that about themselves over the years....in here, it's not how smart you are that's important but how you're smart that's important.... killeen says all of his classes stress a team atmosphere.

Students work together to put on the school newscast.

Na} and his graphic design class works as a team to put together the yearbook.

Every student does every aspect of the journalistic process.

Taking pictures, writing stories, even selling ads.

Na}...we need to get some stuff for senior ads... an atmosphere that has students at south taking his class year after year.

Musi} it's evident patrick killeen has had an impact on the young lives here.

You'll find several pictures with his students and personal letters thanking him for making a difference.

But perhaps the awards he's most fond of are his golden apples.

Clip }...back in the late 1990's i had a student that was very special to me and my family.

He nominated me and well when i didn't get it he was so upset he personally hand crafted this one for me.

So i think i'll always cherish this golden apple as well...they'll both have a special place in my home... and patrick killeen a special place in the hearts of many young people.{music of many young in the hearts special place killeen a and patrick killeen a special place in the hearts of many young people.

Music end} ///////// patrec} a special thank you to south student max schoffstall and mr. killeen's entire class for helping us with this project.

With photo-journalist