A request to rename Snowflake High School’s North Hall (behind the library), Rooms N1 to N89, Cunningham Hall was presented to the Snowflake Unified School District Governing Board last week.

Cunningham dedicated 39 years of her life to SHS, and passed away just two weeks before she began her 40th year at the school.

“She was ready to take up the banner of great literature, good writing and university education one more time,” Teresa Kelleher advised the board Feb. 12 during the call to the public.

“Miss Cunningham gave her evenings, her weekends, her summers and her complete professional life in service to the students of SHS. They were ‘her kids’,” said Kelleher.

Cunningham taught three generations of students and served in many capacities at SHS. Kelleher listed the several capacities she served on in backup information, including Career Ladders Committee member, Curriculum Committee member, Observation, Evaluation, Assessment Committee member, Snowflake Teachers Association member and officer, Sick Leave Bank chairperson, Blue Ribbon Committee member, Technology Implementation Team when SHS first installed computers/labs, director of The Crucible and editor of the district newsletter.

Cunningham sponsored numerous clubs and activities, and influenced many, many students, giving them a love of literature, reading and writing, and encouraging them to attend college.

She served as sponsor of the cheerleaders, National Honor Society, essay-writing contests such as The Harper Lee Personal Narrative, the Freedom Essay, the Emerson Essay and the Jonathan Swift Essay, the Lobo Howl, Shakespeare Club, Student Council and yearbook.

Cunningham donated thousands of dollars to purchase materials for the English Department and put thousands of hours for the students at SHS.

A Facebook page, The Official Fan Club for Miss Carolyn Cunningham, includes many posts from her students.

Three hundred signatures in support of Cunningham Hall were gathered in a short time and given to Board President Cory Johnson at the meeting. Support for the project reaches far past Snowflake to former students who are living throughout the United States.

“Carolyn was a role model to all,” said Kelleher, noting that the longtime educator was humble and “helped all of us in the community become thinkers.

“It’s time for this icon of loyalty, devotion and academic excellence to be recognized in a meaningful and permanent way. Will you take the necessary steps to help us honor Carolyn and make Cunningham Hall a reality?”

Because this item was not on the agenda, the board could neither take action nor comment on it.