LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jennifer Warthan was nominated by an anonymous friend and former colleague.

"Jennifer is so deserving of this award," said the nominator. "She is an outstanding teacher and makes every effort to bring the love of music and life to her students."

Ms. Warthan has come such a long way as a music teacher. She has held recorder clubs on her own time after school, started a school choir, and teaches children from three-year-old Kindergarteners to eighth-graders. Ms. Warthan does all this and still made time to finish a capstone Master's project this fall. She teaches theory, history, and vocal and instrumental practice. Ms. Warthan even makes recorder holders for each student. She is learning guitar and some piano, as well. Her time spent in Korea brings another element to her teaching.

More than that, Ms. Warthan cares about kids. She is the beacon in the school for artistically inclined kids. Ms. Warthan is there for those who need someone to listen to them and hear them. She is a safe haven for many young students.

"From personal experience, I can tell you that she was there for my adopted child, who had suffered abuse years before at her birth home," said the nominator. "Jennifer was there for her as she headed into those teen years."

In addition, Ms. Warthan is a fighter. When her college closed down permanently during the COVID pandemic, she had to find another that would accept her classes and allow her to continue and finish her Master's. It was not easy, but she did it and completed that process in November 2022.

"Jennifer is the type of teacher you want to see with children. She is full of energy and experience. As I said in the beginning, she is most deserving of this award," said the nominator.