Newspaper Page Text
Page 4B
The Braselton News
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
School
Mill Creek HS teacher goes the distance
AT CHICAGO MARATHON
Thomas Kutter and wife, Danielle, are shown after the Chicago
Marathon. Kutter’s finishing time in the Chicago Marathon quali
fied him for the Olympic Trials held Nov. 3 in New York City.
BY KRISTI REED
One hundred miles. That is the
distance Mill Creek High School
teacher Thomas Kutter ran each
week as he prepared for the recent
Olympic Trials. Not only did he
log hundreds of miles during his
training, he also had to overcome
one other obstacle before reaching
the trials: running the 26.2 miles
of the Chicago marathon in less
than two hours and 22 minutes.
Kutter qualified for the Olympic
trials with his Chicago marathon
time of two hours, 21 minutes
and four seconds. On November
3, Kutter and 133 other runners
raced through the streets of New
York City as they competed for
three slots on the U.S. Olympic
team.
Kutter said he realized his chanc
es of finishing in the top three and
making the team were slim, so he
set personal goals. Kutter wanted
to finish in the top 40 and wanted
to break the 2.20 mark. While he
did not meet his goals for the race,
Kutter is still pleased with the
chance to compete in the trials.
“I didn’t quite accomplish my
goals. I was a little upset, but I’m
still happy with what I accom
plished,” Kutter said. “The stan
dards for actually making it to the
Olympic games are really tough.
My goal, since college, was really
to just make it to the Olympic
Trials. I thought if I could do that
it would be really cool. I felt like
I accomplished my goal when I
qualified.”
Upon Kutter’s return from the
trials, Mill Creek High School
principal Jim Markham surprised
him with a special honor. The
Thomas A. Kutter Award will be
presented annually to an elite run
ner at the school. Kutter said he
was pleased with the recognition
and looks forward to choosing the
first recipient.
“It was a surprise. I really
didn’t expect that at all. I was
really happy,” he said.
As head coach of the Mill Creek
varsity girls’ cross country team
and as an assistant track coach, he
will have plenty of opportunities
to view outstanding season perfor
mances by runners at the school.
With the Olympic trials behind
him, Kutter is working on a new
set of goals. Kutter said he hopes
to break the 30-minute mark for
the 10K and would like to beat
his personal best times on some
shorter races before he starts train
ing again for the 2012 Olympics.
Though his training regimen is
beyond the abilities of most aspir
ing runners, Kutter said anyone
can enjoy the benefits of run
ning. Kutter advises new runners
to concentrate on running for a
certain amount of time rather than
running at a certain speed.
“You can even ease into it by
walking,” he said. “Start out really
slow. Run for 10 minutes without
stopping. Keep it slow until you
can run for 10 or 15 minutes with
out stopping. Easy running is the
way to get into it.”
Kutter has been running and
competing in races since he was
11-years-old. He considers quali
fying for the Olympic trials his
biggest accomplishment to date,
but enjoys running for more per
sonal reasons.
“It’s the most effective way for
me to relieve stress,” he said. “For
me, one of the best feelings I ever
have is that feeling of just being in
great physical shape. I feel like I
could run forever. I have really got
to the point where I really need it.
If I don’t have it, I don’t feel right.
I don’t feel like myself.”
Community service is priority for MCHS club
BY KRISTI REED
Members of Mill Creek High
School’s Key Club have been busy
this year. Since school began in
August, club members have partic
ipated in over a dozen service proj
ects with several more planned.
Club Advisor Dr. Clyde Wylie
said the students who participate
in Key Club have a genuine desire
to do community service. Wylie
said he has been amazed at the
level of participation and with
what the students have accom
plished to date.
So far this year, members have
held a food drive, collected toys
for underprivileged children, spon
sored a family for the holidays and
helped process thousands of boxes
for Operation Christmas Child.
At Halloween, club members
trick or treated for UNICEF and
raised over $530. Key Club
members prepared a holiday lun
cheon for the Mill Creek cus
todial staff and helped Duncan
Creek Elementary staff serve over
4,000 students and parents during
another holiday luncheon. The
students have also participated in
service projects at the Mill Creek
Nature Center, the Gwinnett
Environmental and Heritage
Center, Sterling on the Lake and
other locations.
The Key Club is a charter orga
nization of Kiwanis International.
The purpose of the club is to teach
leadership skills through service
projects. Mill Creek’s Key Club
received its charter in November
of 2005 and has been growing rap
idly ever since.
Students are usually recom
mended for Key Club member
ship by teachers or existing club
members. Each student must com
plete an application detailing his
or her reasons for wanting to join.
Prospective members must also be
willing to volunteer for at least 50
hours annually.
Wylie said interest in the club
has been strong. This past year,
180 students were nominated for
membership. Of those students,
over 120 students completed the
application process. Only 60
were accepted. Wylie explained
that membership is limited due to
available meeting space and other
logistical concerns.
Key Club President Jordan Eash
said selecting new members for
the available slots is a responsibil
ity club members take seriously.
“We want to pick people that are
responsible and that you can tell
are dedicated. [We want people]
that put a lot of thought into the
application and are serious about
it,” Eash said.
Wylie said the students chosen
for membership are excited and
appreciate the opportunity to be
part of the Key Club.
“It’s a very well respected club.
Being part of it makes you proud,”
Eash added.
Wylie said he is impressed with
his students and sometimes feels
guilty when people approach him
and thank him personally for the
work Key Club does.
“I don’t have to do much of
anything,” he said. “They’re just
such a wonderful group of young
people. You just can’t say enough
good things about them.”
The Key Club’s next major proj
ect will be its annual fund-raiser.
In conjunction with the Kiwanis,
the Key Club will hold an onion
sale. Ten pound bags of Vidalia
onions will be available for $10
each. Proceeds from the onion
sale fund college scholarships for
local students. The onions will go
on sale at the end of March.
Wylie said club members sold
200 bags last year. This year, they
hope to increase the total to 250
bags.
Wylie said community support
and the drive exhibited by members
has made the Key Club successful
in its efforts. Wylie believes even
greater things are possible.
“With the support of the com
munity, we can achieve some won
derful things,” he said.
Eash agrees: “Everybody cares.
There are people who just want to do
good,” she said. “The people in the
club are genuine. They love helping,
they love community service.”
Students named as scholarship candidates
Mill Creek High School stu- for consideration based on their business organizations. Students
dents Kory Dean, Nitesh Singh 2006 PSAT scores. are required to submit a detailed
and Benjamin Wills have been Each year, approximately 1,500 application to the sponsoring orga-
chosen as candidates for the National Merit Program partici- nization. The students are selected
National Merit Special Scholarship pants are awarded special scholar- based on their abilities, skills and
Program. These students qualified ships provided by corporations and accomplishments.
Community Health Screen
Hosted by Athens Regional Medical Center’s
Health Education and Outpatient Rehab departments
Tuesday, January 15,2008
:00-7:00 p.m.
Jefferson Medical Center
2nd floor
Screenings Offered:
Blood pressure
Bone density
Cholesterol and Blood sugar (non-fasting)
$15 charge for Cholesterol and Blood Sugar screen
Mobility in Your 50s and Beyond:
Rehab screenings will include
Vision - the impact of changes in contrast sensitivity
Vestibular and Balance - the impact on mobility and function
Musculoskeletal - the impact of general orthopedic and muscular
issues as we age
Car fit:
Information about helping mature drivers find their perfect fit.
This program is designed to give you a quick but
comprehensive check by a trained professional on
how well you and your vehicle work together.
Appointments for a future Carfit screening
can be made at the Community Health Screen.
Other members of the Athens Regional team will also be available to provide
information on Diabetes Prevention and Management, Breast Health and
Rehabilitation services including low vision, balance, orthopedics and hands.
Registration is not required.
Athens Regional
For more information
MEDICAL CENTER
A Passion for Medical Excellence
call Health Education at (706) 475-5620.
Dr. Cesar M.
Delima, M.D.
Diplomate of
American Board of Surgery
Announces the Opening
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Bronchial & Esophageal Stenting)
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy &
Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
• Vascular Surgery
(including Endovascular Interventions
with Stenting & Balloon Dilatations)
• Vein Surgery
(including Venous Ablation for varicose
vein & vein disorders & Sclerotherapy)
• Peripheral Arterial Disease
Screening & Testing with CT
Angiograms & Duplex Scanning
Call today to setup your
appointment!
Winder Surgical Specialist
314 N. Broad St., Suite 350
Winder, Georgia
770-307-1305
PAD Screenings
for
• Varicose Veins
• Endovascular Intervention
• Venous Ulcers
• Venous Disorders