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My Favorite Teacher: Judy Kietzman

WQAD News 8, Blackhawk Bank and Trust, and Western Illinois University Quad Cities (WIU-QC) surprised North Scott High School teacher Judy Kietzman on Tuesday, ...

WQAD News 8, Blackhawk Bank and Trust, and Western Illinois University Quad Cities (WIU-QC) surprised North Scott High School teacher Judy Kietzman on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 for the My Favorite Teacher award.

Kietzman was nominated by North Scott Senior Kilynn Marsengill. It was hard for Marsengill to put into words Tuesday, what Kietzman's meant to her.

"Mrs. Kietzman has not only helped me get through school and my crazy life, but she also put a smile on my face," Mrsengill said.

In eighth grade, Marsengill was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or EDS, a disorder that affects the body and causes easy injury. Marsengill has a cast on her right leg, and that's because of the syndrome. In the nomination letter that Marsengill read out loud Tuesday, she said she was bullied a lot because of hers EDS.

"My sophomore year, I decided I wanted to educate everyone on my disease," Marsengill said. "I asked Mrs. Kietzman if she could help me raise awareness."

So the two ended up setting up an EDS Awareness Night, where people who went to one of the school's basketball games during the season, learned about the 'disease.

"She decided that she would learn about the disease and help educate the school about it," Marsengill said of Kietzman. "The bullying got less and less, and it eventually left."

Kietzman teaches some freshmen at North Scott, and she advises them to leave a positive legacy on others, when they graduate in three years.

"Do you want to be remembered for something well, something you started that's a new tradition that's had a positive impact on people, or do you want to be remembered as a troublemaker?" Kietzman said. "I tried to lead by example and talk to them about leaving a legacy that matters to somebody bigger than yourself."

Due to Marsengill's nomination being selected, she gets two goody baskets, one from Blackhawk Bank and Trust and one from WIU-QC. Also, Kietzman gets a blanket from the university and a $50 Visa Gift Card from the bank.

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