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Greenspun Jr. High School Students
Pay Back Former Teacher with Love!

Henderson Home News
Thursday, January 17, 2002
By Kris Hill, News Staff Writer

When Matt Kearney, a seventh-grader at Greenspun JHS, learned his science teacher had to stop teaching, he was devastated.  Suzan Armstrong had to leave teaching after 22 years in the school system because a disease robbed her of her sight.  The disease, macular degeneration, erodes central vision causing virtual blindness.

Photos of Event

Matt came home from school the day he heard the news and sat at the table with his mom, Nancy Kearney,  trying to think of something they could do.  They knew little about this disease.  Matt said, "I just didn't really feel right unless I did something for her, because in the short time I knew her I thought she was a really good teacher."  After deciding they had to act, Nancy began talking to parents and staff at Greenspun.  The idea to raise money to donate to the Macular Degeneration Foundation in Armstrong's honor began to take shape.

Each morning students would contribute change from their allowance or lunch money to their first period class.  In addition, raffle tickets were sold during lunch periods and school events.  Eventually, over $2,046.88 was raised for the Macular Degeneration Foundation.

When Nancy Kearney contacted Edmund Aleksandrovich, the president and founder of the Macular Degeneration Foundation, he was so impressed with the effort of the students that he decided to fly to Nevada to personally accept the check for $2,046.00 on Monday, January 14th. 

Suzan Armstrong

Aleksandrovich said he wouldn't have missed the trip to Greenspun to accept the check after experiencing the excitement and energy the students exhibited for Mrs. Armstrong.  Mr. Aleksandrovich presented Mrs. Armstrong with a plaque that had inscribed, "Macular Degeneration Foundaton Along With Students And Faculty of Greenspun Junior High School Present This Tribute Of Excellence To Suzan Armstrong For Igniting In Young People The Passion For Scientific Exploration."  When Mrs. Armstrong stood to accept this award, the entire student body cheered and gave her a standing ovation.

Being part of this successful effort was not only touching to the student body but also empowering.  The money our school community raised will be used to discover the cause and cure of macular degeneration and to rehabilitate many of the 60 million people in the world who have one of the disorders of macular degeneration.

The Macular Degeneration Foundation wishes to thank the following for their generousity and hospitality: