CHUBBUCK — The 13th annual Influential Educator Event for local teachers was held earlier this month, awarding 28 educators nominated by students.

The event was hosted by graduating seniors from the Pocatello Idaho North Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Students and educators gathered in the cultural hall of the church building at 4600 Victory Ave. in Chubbuck for refreshments and conversation in celebration of the nominated teachers that have left significant impacts on the students’ lives.

This year’s keynote speaker was Idaho State University President Robert W. Wagner.

“I promise that you will never, ever look back on your schooling and regret your decision to graduate and finish this chapter of your educational story,” Wagner said to the seniors in attendance.

Wagner congratulated them on their journey through education thus far and related their futures to the ceremony theme: “Adventure Awaits.” He also touched on society’s need for educators to help younger generations succeed.

“To the professional educators in the room, congratulations,” Wagner said. “You educators have dedicated your professional lives to making a difference to so many. But tonight’s event demonstrates that your impact is most importantly and effectively measured in the success of the individual lives that you have influenced.”

Wagner related an educator’s role in students’ lives to a trail guide. He recalled his personal experience of climbing Mount Hood in Oregon during September around six years ago. The recommended time to summit Mount Hood is in the spring.

“If you were to google ‘when not to climb Mount Hood,’ September would probably be the first spot that would appear in the google search,” Wagner said with laughter from the audience.

About two-thirds of the way up and after hearing the sound of water and falling boulders, Wagner’s companion, who had climbed Mount Hood many times before, said it was not safe and that they should turn around.

“It wasn’t what I didn’t know that scared me. It was what I did know,” Wagner said. “The only thing that I really took comfort in was knowing that I was with an individual who was more calm, who had experience, who knew what he was doing and really, where he was going.”

Wagner explained how having a topographic map would’ve been very useful, not just during this experience, but in order to avoid “tricky terrain” many come across in life.

“How do you proceed on your life’s journey?” Wagner said at the Influential Educator Event. “Teachers, like those here this evening, are the trail guides who help us on our adventures.”

Wagner emphasized considering education beyond high school.

“Whether it’s a degree or a vocational certificate or technical certificate,” Wagner said, “you can never go wrong with more education.”

Wagner continued, “I believe in the power of education and its ability to transform our lives for good. I also believe that there are many who will be there to guide us along the trails on our own adventures.”

After Wagner’s remarks, Matt and Shannon Barlow presented this year’s Influential Educator awards to the following recipients: Cade Ackley, Kevin Bethel, Noel Benadom, Mark Brood, Chase Collins, Katie Cooper, Aubrey Elredge, Jack Garrett, Andrea Gulden, Erin Hatch, Arynne Hoge, Marissa Holverson, Stacey Jensen, Elizabeth Knight, Camille Long, Teri Mitton, Cori Nichols, Staci Orr, Brent Patch, Stefanie Plato, Sharon Sanders, Ashlee Scherer, Taryn Sorrell, David Swenson, Austin Thompson, Denise Thompson, Mark VanOrden and Kimberli Watt.

Each award was presented with facts about the educator and personal quotes from the students who nominated them. Each awardee was given a round of applause for their impact on the young lives in their classrooms.