DeKalb County High School announced the April Student and Teacher of the Month awards last week, with each recipient receiving a certificate and a gift card for a meal at Fiesta Jalisco Mexican Grill.

Senior Sam Harris, son of Kari and Chad Harris, was named the April Student of the Month after being nominated by a teacher.  Harris has a younger sister, Emily Harris, who will be a freshman next year.

“The teacher who nominated Sam for this award said he deserves the recognition because he is always willing to serve and help others around him,” said Assistant DCHS Principal Seth Willoughby.

Harris is a member of the FFA club, and says he enjoys agriculture and plans to further his education at Motlow State Community College and UT Martin. He said while he is looking forward to graduation and will miss the school and people he has met along the way there. Sam said he feels privileged to have been named “Student of the Month.”

The Teacher of the Month Award was presented to longtime CTE residential and commercial construction teacher Gary Caplinger. Caplinger has worked at the position for nearly 14 years and is about to retire at the end of this school year.

“It’s been a good ride, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” Caplinger said. “Teaching is truly a calling. You have to love kids, or you don’t belong here.”

Caplinger joined the DCHS staff in 2012, and said he had never taught school before. “I was a self-employed contractor for 35 years in local small commercial and residential projects.”

Caplinger has also been a minister for 30 years, currently pastoring at Coopers Chapel Baptist Church at Dismal.

When asked what his plans were after retirement, Caplinger said, “I have a lot of hobbies, but I’m mostly just going to piddle around.”