Arron Oliver, a teacher at Eureka Springs High School, has recently been recognized by The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in Hot Springs as one of five recipients of its annual Teacher Impact Awards.

The Teacher Impact Award recognizes educators who helped shape and influence incoming students at ASMSA. Students nominated teachers who aided their growth both intellectually and emotionally. Every educator who was nominated received a certificate of recognition. A letter highlighting their recognition also was sent to each educator’s principal.

A committee of ASMSA staff members read through the recommendations to give further recognition to five educators from different regions within the state.

“Teaching is hard work, and often teachers don’t know how much they have positively influenced their students once they have graduated or moved on to further their education,” according to a release on the honors. “The Teacher Impact Award allows a more immediate recognition of how educators helped shape their pupils.”

Nakoa Beattie, a sophomore from Eureka Springs, said Oliver is the reason that she loves studying history. Oliver was funny and made the best out of every situation, she said.

“He was a great motivator for me because of his interest in history,” Beattie said. “He was a great teacher, and I still remember a lot about his class.”