Richard, Christner Receive GOP Hall Of Fame Awards
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
PIERCETON – Dan Richard and Lila Christner received the Republican Hall of Fame Man and Woman of the Year awards Friday night.
They received the awards during the Kosciusko County Republican Hall of Fame Dinner at the Old Train Depot in Pierceton.
The dinner was attended by approximately 80 Republicans.
Jean Northenor presented the awards. The award honors those who have made contributions to the Republican party.
Northenor said Christner and Richard always step up to the plate and are there when something needs to be done.
Christner said she enjoys helping people and was thankful to receive the award. Christner was recognized for organizing the bake sale at the Kosciusko County Republican Fish Fry.
Richard, who serves as Kosciusko County Area Plan director, said he is glad to be affiliated with the Republican party and work with people who think the way he does.
Dr. Tony Bennett, Indiana superintendent of public schools, was the featured speaker during the dinner.
Senator Carlin Yoder introduced Bennett. Bennett spoke about how Indiana is on the right track in education.
Bennett said he and Governor Mitch Daniels are often credited with Indiana’s education success.
However, Bennett said, it is State Representatives Rebecca Kubacki and Dave Wolkins, who attended the dinner, and Yoder who are the real heroes in education reform.
Bennett said he has watched as they have taken the heat in town hall meetings and did the right think in the statehouse for education.
Bennett said Indiana today is the model for the U.S. for education reform.
“Indiana is the state that has given parents more choices, freedom and input into where and how their children are educated,” Bennett said.
He also said Indiana has the most expansive needs basis voucher program in the country.
This year, 9,300 low- and moderate-income children are now getting choices they have never had before through the voucher program.
Bennett said education reform that has been accomplished is that teachers will be evaluated annually and be taught how to become better teachers and give administrators feedback if they need to make personnel decisions.
“We have transformed the concept that every child must have effective teachers in their classroom and teachers are no longer paid just on their seniority, but on how well their students learn,” Bennett said.
He said Indiana is the state where education reform means results.
Indiana’s student performance has risen 8 percent over the last three years and the state has the second highest improvement rate in advanced placement courses.
Graduation rates are at an all-time high of 85.7 percent, Bennett said.
“We need to make sure our children, our most valuable resource, learn equally if not better than those in other countries,” Bennett said.
Jackie Walorski, 2nd district U.S. congress candidate, spoke during the dinner.
Walorski said Indiana has balanced its budget, audited every department in Indiana and made sure to get the state out of debt without raising taxes.
“I want to take what we have done at the state level and take it to the federal level and leave our nation in better shape than what it has been,” Walorski said.
Kubacki introduced Indiana’s Secretary of State Connie Lawson. Lawson is the state’s 61st secretary of state and spoke about the importance of voting in the Nov. 6 election.
Lawson said the work the Republican party is doing in Kosciusko County is essential to the statewide election.
