Music that Describes Bruce
Bruce Wiltshire was nominated by his colleague, Jamie Oliver.
"Mr. Wiltshire, or 'Wilt' as we call him, is an inspiration to me," said Oliver. "My son graduated in 2019. He did not have Wilt as a teacher, but he has become a mentor over this past year. Wilt took the time to work side by side teaching my son how to work on cars, just as he does with all of his students. He has gone above and beyond his call as teacher/mentor during the years I have known him. I am proud to call him a colleague and friend. He deserves this award, not only for the his teaching abilities, but for helping students develop a trade in which they can be productive citizens."
Mr. Wiltshire has worked tirelessly with students during and after school hours. He is an exemplary individual and an outstanding teacher. He and his wife Sherry have raised two sons who were academically excellent students at Hampton High School where I am School Counselor. Both sons have successfully completed college and training, the youngest of which completed the Naval Academy. Bruce is actively involved in the community and surrounding region. His participation in church leadership at Siam Baptist Church allows him to provide support to a number of citizens throughout Carter County. I feel privileged to have worked over 10 years with this gentleman. It has been a joy to see him spark the interests in students and encourage their successes in whatever way he could. He has prompted the growth of several students academically, mentally, emotionally, and instilled a work ethic that is worthy to be hired within his specialty of automotive repair.
I am a colleague of Mr. Wiltshire at Hampton High School. I personally know of many success stories due to the tutalidge of Mr. Wiltshire. Numerous students have furthered their education and chose a career in the automotive industry. Several of those students were on the border of being drop outs. Mr. Wiltshire is a life changer for who knows what would have happened to those students without his guidance? Hampton High School is truly blessed to have Mr. Wiltshire on staff. The students absolutely love his hands on approach in educating them in the automotive field. The best compliment that I can say about his class is that I have never heard a student say anything negative regarding his class. Hampton High is truly a better place after having Mr. Wilshire as a teacher.
Words cannot encapsulate the motivation, sincerity, and skills that Mr. Bruce Wiltshire has. Mr. Wiltshire uses his years of automotive technical training to help students understand how to focus, understand, and troubleshoot problems (on vehicles and personnel). He has also encouraged several of his students to further their education in the automotive repair field. While being a Career and Technical Education teacher, Mr. Wiltshire knows that education just doesn't take place inside of four walls. He takes students on trips to see education in motion and uses the real world aspect to help sharpen student's soft skills. Being a SkillsUSA and TSA advisor, he has led several students to become regional, state, and national competitors. Without his support and encouragement, many of the students would have never left our small county.
Mr. Wiltshire is a devout, Christian man who is passionate about helping others and is a friend to all. Several former students return to school to donate their time and money back to the Automotive classroom. Two of his former students are on his advisory panel. Community leaders often come to him and ask for advice, not only on their automobiles, but for their businesses. His classroom and shop provide our community with a service like no other. He often repairs damaged goods without a price tag. Although Mr. Witshire and his students may not develop a new invention or create a world changing product, they fix broken pieces. As the old saying goes, "Everybody makes fun of a redneck, until your car breaks down".
I personally know the dedication and integrity that Mr. Wiltshire has, after working across the hallway from him for the past 11 years. I am not sure that I would be in the education field today, if he had not encouraged me to continue. Judges, I highly recommend Mr. Bruce Wiltshire for Life Changer of the year, as he not only changes students lives, but adults as well.
Mr. Wiltshire is very intelligent, easy going and probably the most patient person I have ever met. He really sets the bar in my opinion as I have learned a lot from being in his classes, not just about working on cars but about life too and I am very glad that he was my teacher. Mr. Wiltshire would be a great recipient of the LifeChanger of the Year award.
Bruce, is a good man all around. He's kind, gentle, and rolls with the punches. I know him on a personal basis through extended family and he's always treated me with grace and kindness.
Bruce is wonderful person as well as teacher. You can tell he wishes to teach a needed trade to his students but doesn’t hesitate to help in other areas when students are to gain.
I had the pleasure of having Mr. Wiltshire my senior year and meeting him through SkillsUSA beforehand. I honestly wish I would have took his class more throughout high school. He is an amazing educator and always goes above and beyond for his students. He always challenged me to do more and to be the best student/person I could be. He taught me so much whether it was in the class room, working on my own vehicle, or on the SkillsUSA field trips. He cares so much about his students and would do anything for them. He gives a lot of students life skills to either have a better future or find a good job once out of high school. Mr. Wiltshire is one of the most passionate educators I have had in high school. There are things he taught me my senior year(2016) that I still apply to life now. It was such a pleasure having him as a teacher and mentor.
It makes me happy to see Mr. Wiltshire has been for the life changer of the year award. All 4 years of my high school Mr. Wiltshire has always been supporting of every student that has walked through his classroom and I cannot think of a person who has been to Hampton High that wouldn’t say the same. Wiltshire is one of few people dedicated to loving his job and being able to make the kids love it as much as he does. He is such an enthusiastic person and values being able to teach what he loves to do in a classroom setting. The amount of just positivity, patience and influence he has had on so many people while teaching them skills they couldn’t have learned anywhere else and continuing to help after and push students to do great thing even after school is something I know many people including myself will remember years past graduating.
Awesome teacher who has the best interests of students at heart!!!
Mr. Wiltshire is an incredibly kind person and a dedicated teacher. As a senior at Hampton High School, I am very thankful for the effort Mr. Wiltshire has put into helping me be successful in his own class, in other classes, and in life. I had the opportunity to spend time in his classroom my freshman year. Mr. Wiltshire encouraged involvement in his class projects and the competitions in SkillsUSA and the Annual Solar Go-Kart race despite my inexperience in his program. His classroom provided me with a positive learning environment and a safe space to be myself during a scary transition into high school. I have competed alongside the students involved in Mr. Wiltshire’s program of study for three years. I am impressed by the patience Mr. Wiltshire has with each individual he encounters, the care he has for the well-being of each student, and the knowledge he offers to each competitor of his own program or of a different one. Mr. Wiltshire is one of the most passionate educators I have met. Having the opportunity to learn from him has been a blessing. I am confident that his encouraging words and advice will follow me long after I graduate from Hampton High School.
