Sam Jernigan

Goddard football coach

Education — Bachelor of Science with endorsements in physical education and social studies

Subjects taught — Economics; Weight training; Football physical education

School activities — Class sponsor

“Coach Sam Jernigan has spent the past two-plus decades as the leader of Goddard Rocket Friday night football. He has won numerous state championships and awards, and just won his 200th game as a head coach, a feat not claimed by many in the ranks of high school football. But it is never about coach Jernigan and always about the young men in his program. Coach Jernigan is a master of football skills and knowledge, that fact is know far and wide. But what is not known is what he means to the young men in terms of caring about them and the influence he has on the young lives he shapes. They know what fairness and caring are; it is modeled for them. They know what respect and responsibility are; it is modeled and demanded from them. They know what citizenship and trustworthiness are; that is also modeled and demanded. Our football players are some of the finest citizens on our campus; they have no other choice if they wish to claim to be a Rocket. Coach Jernigan loves to win, and so do his young players, but the biggest love of winning far exceeds football; it is the game called being successful in the big world known as life. He is the master teacher of this bigger game.”

— Goddard athletic coordinator Michelle Edgett

“Coach Jernigan treats his players with respect by making sure they are protected with safe equipment and never makes us do things he wouldn’t. He cares about his players by telling us that, plus, anytime his players get hurt and are lying on the field, he will be the first one out to check on them to see and make sure everything with them is OK. He is also the captain of our team and we all know he will put us in the best position to win. All of his players in the past and present trust him in sports and in life. As you go to practice and work, he watches to see who the best athletes are and makes you earn a spot on the team. If you are the best player, but you don’t show up to practice and do the same work as everyone else, then he will give your spot to someone who did all the work. He gives everyone a fair chance to earn a spot. If a game starts to turn in our favor by a few touchdowns, then he will try to get in the players that don’t play much but did all the work needed and proved to the coaches they love football. He is responsible by getting us the scouting report in time for us to study and learn the other team. He will get everything in on time. These are all the reasons why I nominate Coach Jernigan for this award.”

— Goddard football captain David Anaya

John Masterson

Goddard interim boys soccer coach

Education — Bachelor of Science with endorsement in social studies

Subjects taught — Social studies

“John Masterson has been an assistant soccer coach at Goddard High School for several years, and an integral part of our program. Due to an unexpected need to change leadership of the program near the beginning of the season, John enthusiastically grabbed the reins of our program and led the team this year. As he doesn’t teach at Goddard, it was a real challenge for coach Masterson to get here in time for practice each day, but he assumed the responsibility for doing that. He was fair and caring with the players and modeled citizenship and trustworthiness. John Masterson has earned the respect of our student-athletes and the staff at Goddard High School.”

— Goddard athletic coordinator Michelle Edgett

“Coach Masterson followed through with the first act of sincere care for his soccer team by stepping up to take the head coaching job when he was needed. He did this while maintaining a teaching job at Berrendo Middle School. He respected all the players by displaying no favoritism toward any one or group of players. He was trustworthy and trusted us players, which provided the necessary relationship to maintain a strong bond between team and coach, especially players. After an unexpected loss of coaching staff early in the season, he was a responsible coach. He could be relied on to be at practice as soon as he could considering he had another full-time job to attend to. He respected each and every player and earned the respect of us players as well. I, along with the team, was very thankful to have a dedicated and reliable coach to help us continue our soccer season.”

— Goddard boys soccer captain Jake Maxey

Patty Nolan

Goddard cheer coach

Education — Bachelor of Arts with certification to teach language arts and drama

Subjects taught — English II; Drama I-III

School activities — Class sponsor: Drama department coordinator

“Patty Nolan is a leader at Goddard High School, in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities. She is equally adept at making a presentation on the latest study methods to her peers as she is to students. She models respect and caring in all facets of her life. She assumes responsibility for various activities on campus, while teaching a full load and being very involved with her own family. She is trusted by all who know her. Patty is fair to those around her and strives to see that others are fairly treated as well. She is a model citizen. In summary, Patty Nolan is the professional who we want our newly-hired staff to emulate. It is a privilege to have her as an integral part of the Goddard family.”

— Goddard athletic coordinator Michelle Edgett

“Coach Nolan is an outstanding coach and an outstanding person as well. She exhibits the pillars of character, not only on the cheer floor, but in her classroom and also outside of the school. She is extremely patient with each and every girl on the squad. Coach Nolan understands that we all have different learning styles when learning cheers and dances and also that we learn at different speeds. She is very respectful of that and never leaves a girl behind. Coach Nolan is a team player and makes us feel as if we are all one family. Being good citizens is very important and coach Nolan teaches us that by all the community service projects that we take part in. Most importantly is that coach Nolan is someone we all trust. All of the girls know that we can talk to her about anything, and many of us do. Whether it has to do with cheer, school, or just life in general, Coach is there to help us through it all. She is one of the most respectful and positive women I have come to know and love.”

— Goddard cheer captain Rachel Chaves

Jan Olesinski

NMMI cross country coach

Education — Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the Academy of Physical Education

Subjects taught — Swimming; Fencing; Cross country; Weight training

“Jan is an outstanding coach and teacher. He has been an important part of the NMMI family for 25 years and his contribution to NMMI and the Roswell community is unmatched. I have never heard any one of his players say a negative thing about coach Olesinski. He is a gentlemen with integrity and values. NMMI couldn’t ask for a better example of our credo — Duty, Honor and Achievement — than coach Jan Olesinski.”

— NMMI athletic director Reggie Franklin

Kerri Pirtle

Gateway Christian

volleyball coach

Education — Bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University

“Kerri Pirtle exemplifies the six pillars of character. Kerri has a willingness to work with kids, not only on the court, but off. She teaches them valuable life lessons from a Christian standpoint. Kerri also makes time for students if they need to talk to someone. Overall, Kerri is a great asset to Gateway Christian School and would represent this award with character.”

— Gateway Christian athletic director Justin Stephens

“Mrs. Pirtle is a great candidate for a Character Counts! award. Mrs. Pirtle is not just a teacher of Character Counts! principles, but an example. She instills discipline and self-worth into every girl playing on her court. These principles not only last during your high-school years, but they are principles that follow you into the hardships of life. A word forbidden on her court is can’t. Mrs. Pirtle not only refuses the pleasure of quitting to herself, but also to her girls; there was nothing our coach believed we couldn’t do. She always used to say ‘If a fat pregnant lady can do it, you can do it,’ referring to herself in this statement. She is neither fat, nor does being pregnant hinder her ability to beat you in volleyball. Mrs. Pirtle pushed us to our full potential and encouraged us to reach for new heights. This quote has always reminded me of her, ‘Aim for the moon, if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.’ I will never forget her persistence, or the faith she had in her team. Thank you, Mrs. Pirtle, for teaching me, not only my own strength, but also the value of team.”

— Gateway Christian volleyball captain Mercedes Fox