For two weeks each spring, lilacs are in full bloom in Minnesota. We are fortunate to have lilac bushes along many alleys in our neighborhood, and Bill and I love the smell of lilacs.

Whenever they were in bloom, Bill would tell the story of forgetting to buy flowers to decorate for Senior Honors Night. So, he took a few students, drove down the alleys and pruned a number of overgrown bushes. Lilacs in vases around the event were the talk of evening. Bill always chuckled when he retold the story—proud of his quick thinking.

Bill was a good man who did good for others and it was important to all of us that we not put a minimum GPA or a ‘you must use the money for X-Y-Z’ requirement on this scholarship. We wanted to recognize good humans who do good for others. It’s been an honor to meet each year’s winners and support them with this award. I hope to be able to do so for many years to come.

Each Honors Night, I’ve walked to Johnson soaking in the lilac smell along the way. If Bill were walking with me, he would have recounted years of memories of his time at Johnson. Of students he remembered who had won different awards. Of wrangling adults and families. And of the time he saved the night by pruning lilacs off the neighborhood bushes.

My 34 year teaching career started in the living room of our childhood home on Berkeley Ave. As many children do, we strive to emulate our parents, and I was an attentive observer (and sometimes, participant) as my dad sat for hours at the desk planning, evaluating, and reflecting on his lessons, tests and ways to engage and TEACH the learners he had each year. As a result, I learned how to think about how individual students learn and that I had an amazing opportunity, and obligation, to reach each and every one.

It was my dad, through his constant example of dedication, compassion and desire to make a difference that inspired me to become an early childhood special educator. What an incredible gift he gave me - and I am honored and blessed to be able to continue his legacy of excellence and kindness through this foundation.

Having Bill Lynch for a Dad meant being privy to endless examples of quiet strength, simple acts of kindness, and generous compassion. It meant having someone who would lift you up, offer perspective when you needed it most, or sit with you in silence and let you be. It meant learning that our own lives should reflect those same qualities — lifting others, offering perspective, and showing kindness through whatever paths we choose.

For me, that has meant teaching, parenting, and now continuing his legacy through the work of this foundation. We were lucky to call him Dad and we hope scholarship recipients will also feel lucky to have his influence in their lives.

“Here goes 20 minutes.” This is what I would say to myself as kid whenever we were out and someone inevitably would exclaim, “Mr. Lynch!”

It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how special every one of those 20 minutes were. Each time someone whom my dad had made an impact and left a lasting impression on, they were excited to see him and share updates which would be met with an enthusiastic “That’s great, way to go!” and encouragement for the future.

Ever since I was little my dad has always been around. He would take me to school, be there when I got home, take me to swim practice and he was always be there to talk when I needed it.

Being without him these last few years is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The lessons and wisdom he instilled in me have helped me become who I am today.

One thing about my dad is he had a lot of stories. He was always sharing stories about his life and these stories usually had a lesson or message behind them. One story was of a time he picked up a hitchhiker on Hwy 61 and brought him all the way to Stillwater, he laughed about how they talked all the way there.

While I won’t be doing that anytime soon, what he taught me was to welcome people in, care for others, and treat strangers with compassion. I try to live my life in the way he taught me; with care and compassion for others.