Local teacher awarded $1K grant from Diamondbacks

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - A local Yuma Union High School District teacher received a special award at Sunday's Arizona Diamondbacks game.

Gila Ridge High School film and television production teacher James Kuzniak was nominated by one of his students, winning the most valuable teacher award as a part of the Diamondbacks give back program.

He was awarded a one-thousand dollar grant to use in his classroom.

Gila Ridge High School’s James Kuzniak was one of eight teachers to receive the award and says he is proud to put yuma on the map.

“It is pretty cool to represent yuma because everyone asks when you get there, ‘Oh, what school are you from? Phoenix union, are you from chandler, and then I’m like no I’m from Yuma, and there’s a shock on their face.’ So it’s kind of cool that we get recognized for doing good things,” said Kuzniak.

He says he's putting the grant money toward a new camera and microphones for his film and TV production class. 

One student, Jose De La Torre says he hopes to be a professional photographer after high school, saying Kuzniak is mentoring him along the way.

“I’ve always liked taking pictures since I was younger. Kuzniak has definitely mentored me. He spends way too much of his time in this classroom and I try my best to meet his expectations and be able to use my work professionally in the future,” said De La Torre.

Kuzniak says he is thankful for the Diamondbacks recognizing him as the Most Valuable Teacher, but says he couldn’t have got this award without the help of his students. 

“It’s more of a reflection of the students more than myself because of all the hard work they put into it and they want to get better and want to learn so that motivates me as a teacher,” said Kuzniak.