I am deeply honored and sincerely grateful to the selection committee for inducting me into the Hall of Fame.
Growing up in Twain Harte, I was fortunate to be surrounded by a community willing to invest in me. I was raised by my mother, Sherry, whose “warm demander” approach taught me integrity, a strong work ethic, and the courage to fail. Throughout it all, I was supported by my siblings—Tyler, Todd, and Sarah—who paved the way for me in everything from soccer and earning my Eagle Scout rank to attending college and living independently.
My friends growing up throughout school were crucial to me developing into the person that I was able to become during and after high school. My friends in high school encouraged me to become a better version of myself. They were always pushing the limit whether it was in school, sports, working multiple jobs, or volunteering. We were gritty together and we were accepting that none of us were perfect and that’s what made us perfect together. Thank you, Mike Tarantino, AJ Colagross, Damon Plowman, Sam Tune, Jeff Germain, Mike Epperly and Jake Burns. I especially want to thank Aaron Plowman, who turned me into a lifelong learner, showed me that reading could be enjoyable, and showed me that being present is crucial to living a happy life.
During my time at Summerville High School, I strove to make a positive impact as a student-leader, scholar, and multi-sport athlete. As an Eagle Scout and three-year Associated Student Body (ASB) member, I enjoyed bringing students together across campus. Driven by a deep curiosity, I founded and served as President of the Summerville Philosophy Club with invaluable encouragement and guidance from Ms. Harford and Mr. Helstab. These experiences, alongside the support of my teachers and peers, earned me local student scholarships and the ultimate honor of being voted “Outstanding Senior” by the Summerville faculty in 2008.
On the soccer pitch and on the track, my athletic drive was matched by the invaluable lesson of adaptability. Serving as Captain of both the JV (2005) and Varsity (2007) soccer teams, I learned about respecting myself and others, resilience and leadership under the mentorship of coaches like Jim Epperly, Gabe Wingo, Brad Schultz, and Dave Reel—lessons that added more value to my life than any title on the field ever could. Jim Epperly taught me that my role in impacting the team is greater than any impact I could have alone. Jim is still coaching me 20 years later on how to be the best version of myself. Through these coaches’ leadership and the trust in my teammates I was fortunate to be named 1st Team All-Motherlode (co-MVP) and 1st Team Tri-County (MVP). In Track and Field, I earned over a dozen medals, was named Motherlode League Co-MVP, and qualified for sub-sectionals in the 300m hurdles.
As an educator, when I’m asked to share my story, I realize that every moment worth talking about comes back to the friends and mentors who helped shape my path. I am deeply grateful to this community for believing in me.
After graduating from Summerville, I attended UC Davis and eventually channeled my experiences into a fulfilling career in education. Today, as an educator myself, I look back on my time in secondary education with profound gratitude for the teachers, coaches, staff, and friends who helped shape my trajectory—proving that change is the only constant, and that we are always better together.
Today, I am proud to live right back home in Twain Harte with my wife and our two sons. I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to my wife—not only for nominating me for this incredible honor, but for her unwavering love and support. Thank you for constantly encouraging me to take on new challenges, pursue the things I love most in life, and strive to be better every day.