LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Dave Olenchek was nominated by an anonymous student.

"I have loved math and science all of my life. Usually, math and science classes have come easy to me. However, I took an advanced science class and two math classes in my junior year, which was a real challenge for me," said the student.

"I struggled. AP Statistics, my teacher was Mr. Olenchek. He taught AP Statistics for grades 11-12 and loved old movies and cartoon references. He loved cross-country skiing and biking, and boy, he was a character," said the student.

"My first test in the class happened to be the exact day after the deadline to drop classes. I ended up getting 62%. My grade was a D. That night, I came home upset and embarrassed because the test had 'See me' scribbled across the top, and I felt like I completely messed up by taking his class," said the student.

"I came to class the next morning before school and talked to him. I discovered he wasn't upset but there to help me figure out what I did wrong. We sat down at his desk, and he looked over my test. He said, 'You made some silly mistakes; you'll be fine,'" said the student.

"He gave me some tips to help me with my next test, and he gave me the confidence that I needed after getting a D that I could save my grade and do well in the class. My whole mindset and mental health got a lot better after our talk. I felt like I could breathe, and a weight lifted off my shoulders," said the student.

"Every day, I would come to my first-period class which was right next to his class, and he would pop in to say hi or see me getting to my class and say hi. He was the teacher that made me realize that you're not a bad person if you don't understand a concept in a class," said the student. "Mr. O came to class daily with a bright smile and a joking, lighthearted attitude. He made the class fun and memorable with his 'demonic devices,' which he called sayings to help us remember concepts. 'Shape, center, spread oh my" which was a reference to Dorothy, used to remember how to describe a distribution, was one of my favorites."

"To this day, Mr. O has made the biggest impact on me. He was not just teaching me that as long as I worked on the topic, I could conquer any topic and never give up. But I remember him for the kind, joyful, caring person he was. He always brightened my day. Thank you, Mr. O," said the student.