By Julie Ann Madden

His loss is being felt around the world. Retired Akron-Westfield High School science teacher Ron Wilmot, 69. passed away after suffering a heart attack while volunteering in Jalingo, Nigeria. Wilmot came to the Akron community in 1968 with his wife, Meriele and their children, to teach science to local students. He had a bachelor of arts degree with majors in biology and religion from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. He didn’t just teach science from textbooks, he created scientific opportunities for Grades 7-12 over the next 39 years. His philosophy was: “Education is not within four walls or a building. It’s lifelong and all around you.” “It’s hands-on with one instructor and a small group, five or six kids, and in real life situations,” Wilmot had told The Akron Hometowner in an interview about A-W science education. “That’s where they really learn.” Working with students who had independent study projects was his favorite part of the job. Wilmot made annual treks with students to the Beartooth Primitive Area in southwest Montana from 1970 - 1990. The last five years, the students conducted an Agri-Alpine Ecology Study with Mount Marty College in Yankton, S.D. The purpose was to conduct a comparison of the plains and mountain environments.” He convinced other A-W faculty “to jump off the end of the bridge with him and try a lot of things.” Often, A-W science teacher Kim Meerdink would ask, “Are you going to get us in trouble again?” Many of Wilmot’s ideas turned out very successful and were beneficial not only to the students and the school district but to the entire community. For instance in 1995, he convinced Lakeside Lab officials in Spirit Lake that high school students could participate in gathering scientific data -- until then, it had only been done by professors and college-age students. Akron-Westfield Community School is still the only high school whose students make bi-annual weekend scientific studies at Lakeside Labs. Wilmot recruited other A-W science and mathematics faculty and West Sioux science teacher Josh Martinsen to volunteer at Lakeside Lab. The teachers receive no pay, and the students receive no academic credit for their work. Each participant -- student and teacher -- pays their own way to go. Wilmot voluntarily paid for a storage unit to house school science supplies and purchased a van to transport students to and from water study collection sites. In addition, he donated thousands of dollars each year to the school district. In 1996, Wilmot received a $4,900 Toyota Tapestry grant, which was in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association, to purchase equipment for science projects. In 1998, Wilmot obtained grants totaling $24,000 for equipment from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Iowa Science Foundation for wetland studies along the Big Sioux River. These grants allowed the school to obtain sophisticated surveying equipment seldom available to high school students. Calculating the age of trees by collecting core samples, surveying land and determining land elevation, collecting and identifying soil and water chemistry samples, completing aquatic studies, calculating the density of spider populations on the prairie and devising a way to collect a water sample from 20 feet below the water’s surface are just a few of the scientific experiences students have had at Lakeside lab. “There is no such thing as a scientific failure,” he believed. “The expected results may not have been there but you did learn. You learned what didn’t work.” “We don’t see it as a failure but as a challenge to solve,” he added. “I never believed in the idea of failure. It should be called trial and error. You learn by your mistakes but you’re learning not failing.” “It was fun helping the science program to grow to where it’s known across the state for the projects you do,” Wilmot had said. “That’s not only by other schools but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.” The last two projects he was involved with at Akron-Westfield were the Big Sioux River Tributary Water Project and the Westfield Creek Watershed Area Study. The first was to prove whether tributaries of the Big Sioux River were impaired in Plymouth County. The latter was to complete in-depth research on Westfield Creek. The data from those projects is in the hands of a volunteer group who are seeking solutions to area water impairments. In doing these projects, Wilmot, his fellow faculty and students submitted a Water Quality Assurance Plan to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. It was the first such plan that the IDNR approved. The students will submit their findings to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Wilmot was also the school district’s technology coordinator. He was known not only as a great teacher but as a great father- figure and mentor to thousands of children around the world who took his classes or participated in one of his scientific studies, backpacking trips, or community service opportunities. In the late 1990s, early 2000s, Wilmot taught at Loess Hills Prairie Seminars, sponsored by Western Hills Area Education for teachers, students and other interested persons. He also was a temporary “Ask The Expert” on the Toyota Tapestry Web site, which is for American teachers to ask questions about the policies, practices and projects of schools in the United States. In 2002, Wilmot participated in an Iowa-Nigeria Partnership mission through the United Methodist Churches of Iowa and Nigeria. His first assignment was to help with furnishing and equipping a new science lab as well as instructing in-services for teachers. In 2004, Wilmot was named one of eight Outstanding Science Teacher Award recipients at the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences. This award, which first year college students nominate teachers for, recognizes individuals whose teaching, mentoring and creativity have had significant positive impacts on their lives. He was nominated by A-W alum Lori Pokela. Although he officially retired in the fall of 2004, Wilmot continued as a substitute teacher and was involved in A-W’s science program. In February of this year, he took students to the Seventh Annual Water Monitoring Conference in Ames - A-W was the only high school to attend this conference. They presented their Big Sioux River Tributary Water Project. At the time of his death, Wilmot was on his seventh mission trip in Nigeria where he was helping to install wells, solar-powered refrigerators and construct faculty housing at the United Methodist sponsored school in Jalingo, Nigeria. In addition, he brought A-3 plant seeds and created a presentation on these plants and their leaves which are made into a tea that provides relief to malaria sufferers. “To help others -- we have so much and they have so little,” Wilmot told the Hometowner. “This is a great opportunity to help a lot of people. Education will keep on giving long after the missionaries have returned to Iowa.” Not only did Wilmot take his knowledge to Africa but he brought what he learned there back to his community and church. He wrote weekly letters while he was there explaining to Hometowner readers what he was doing. Once he returned home, Wilmot made presentations to area organizations and congregations. Community Service In 2003, The Le Mars Sertoma Club presented Wilmot their Service to Mankind Award, which is presented annually to individuals who provide extraordinary community service. Wilmot was only the second Akron resident to be awarded this honor in the club’s 30-year history. His philosophy on community service: “You live here. You’d better do your best to keep it.” It wasn’t only his belief but how he lived his life. When Wilmot saw a need, he applied his knowledge and skills to getting it fulfilled. In 1993, he joined the Plymouth County Conservation Board, a position he held until his death. After seeing a National Public Radio program about a mother, whose child was shot to death outside their Chicago home, wanting to create an After School Program for other children, Wilmot convinced his Saturday Science Club students to collect items for this mother’s Caprini Green Housing Complex Project in Chicago. In 1994 and 1995, Wilmot and several students made two trips to take surplus and donated educational materials to set up a Home Economics classroom, an educational classroom, and a small library reference room. He served on the Plymouth County REAP Board for several years. Wilmot helped the community secure a $57,000 REAP Grant for the Dunham Prairie expansion of the Akron City Park System. Wilmot joined the Akron Park Board in 1990. He was instrumental in obtaining REAP funds, procuring wetlands in Iowa and South Dakota, and bringing nonprofit groups and citizens together to create a wildlife preserve and nature trail in the Akron area and along the Big Sioux River. Wilmot voluntarily mowed the trail with his own equipment from 1992 - 2002. He’s been a member of the Akron City Convalescent Care Center Board since 1989. When it was a hospital, Wilmot volunteered his time to set up the first computer program, assisted in the cable television installation, shared his knowledge and skills to the laboratory department, and assisted the activity department by donating vans used with travel and outings. “He has always been a positive leader looking to the future,” said Care Center Administrator Gerald Dykstra in 2003. Wilmot also voluntarily gave of his time to the Akron Children’s Center. He provided mechanical maintenance and technical assistance as well as often was found shoveling snow at 6 a.m. there so parents could easily drop off their children. Wilmot was elected to the Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation District and served 1996 - 2001. In 1999, Wilmot was instrumental in bringing a 170-feet wind turbine to the Akron-Westfield School District. He and his students conducted a feasibility study before the project was implemented. When the project became an issue between the City of Akron and the school district, Wilmot ran for a seat on the Akron City Council. He was a member of the council when the school district sold the wind turbine’s first “green tags,” imaginary tags attached to each megawatt-hour produced by the wind turbine. This netted an extra $900 per month for the school district in addition to cutting its electrical utility costs. As many have said, Wilmot was always doing, always seeking ways to make the world a better place for others. “I’ve enjoyed doing everything I’ve done,” Wilmot told The Akron Hometowner when he received an honor a few years ago, “or I guess I wouldn’t have done it.” Wilmot did everything because it was fun, said Mat Trotzig who presented him the Sertoma Award, calling him a “one-man service club.” In 2006, he was nominated for the “Iowan of the Day Project” through the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. Nadine Philips, who nominated him, said, “There are no boundary lines for Ron when it comes to community service.” Awards Wilmot received numerous awards from state and national organizations including

•  FFA Appreciation Award, 1992, for his encouragement, cooperation and assistance to the FFA in helping them accomplish outstanding achievements in farming, leadership, citizenship and community welfare.

•  The MAPCO Award, 1986;

• The Eisenhower National Clearing House for Mathematics and Science Education Award, 1997;

• Department of Natural Resources IOWATER Educator of the Year, 2000, for his work with his students in water monitoring of the Big Sioux River and at Lakeside Lab. The students also prepared presentations for city councils, service groups, the school board, state school board conventions, state and national teacher workshops and conferences, and four presentations at the school per year. To be able to give these presentations, Wilmot often picked up most of the tab.

• In 2000, Wilmot and his students were awarded the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Keepers of the Land Director’s Award.

“Wilmot, his students and fellow teachers exemplify the spirit of volunteerism,” wrote Jason O’Brien, head of the Iowa NatureMapping Program, in a letter presented at the award ceremony. “Ron is a teacher who gives freely of his knowledge, time and skills for the betterment of his students and the community they live in. The students are shining examples of what can happen when learning is relevant to their world. They are energetic, talented, intelligent and dedicated to discovering the living world around them.” Wilmot was also one of 20 teachers nationwide to receive the Brandwein Institute Award in 2002. In 2003, Wilmot and fellow science teacher Theresa Horton were notified that approximately 150 Akron-Westfield students who had participated in several scientific studies over the past five years were selected to receive the Conservation Award for Youth from the Iowa Division of the Isaak Walton League of America. Akron-Westfield is the only school to receive this state conservation award. Their projects included the Lewis & Clark Lake Water Study, De Soto Bend Geese Count, Lakeside Lab, the Study of Northwest Iowa Accretion Wetlands, the Turbidity of the Big Sioux River, Natural Resource Conservation Service Study of Water Runoff of Westfield and Beaver Creeks’ Watershed Areas, the Mount Talbot Small Mammal Study, the Amphibian and Reptile Study of Indian Creek, and a Study of Cricket Frogs in Union County, S.D. He was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Iowa Conservation Education group, the National Biology Teachers Association and National Science Teachers Association. He was an avid reader and enjoyed meeting authors. He also enjoyed ham radioing, trout fishing, backpacking, canoeing, mountain climbing, astronomy and using telescopes.