Marsha Guth, a teacher at Fegely Middle School in Portage, once had a student whose mother was sick.

Not only did Guth talk to the student and get her through it, she also took the girl to the grocery store while the girl's mother was in the hospital, took the girl to high school football games and did plenty more for the girl and her sisters. Guth also made an impression on the girl as a teacher, doing things like singing songs to get students to remember information.

The girl ended up nominating Guth for one of the 2004-05 Nina & Kenneth J. Allen Teaching Excellence Awards. Guth and nine other teachers were selected as winners recently, and each won a $1,000 stipend.

Along with Guth, the other winners are Cathie Jacobs, Portage; Marisella Lynch, Portage; Gail Nicolini, Merrillville; Teresa Procter, Merrillville; James Stamper, Merrillville; Cheryl Bagnall, Valparaiso; Ann Davies, Valparaiso; Delia McClam, Wirt; and Helen Brandewie, Andrean.

Dozens of secondary school teachers from across Northwest Indiana were nominated by their students. The award winners were selected by a panel consisting of Valparaiso High School teacher Lance Leach, Rabbi Stanley Halpern of Temple Israel in Miller and former teacher and Lake Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Arredondo.

Attorney Kenneth J. Allen, who along with his wife, Nina, provided the $10,000 for the awards, said he did it because he came from a working class family and struggled at times to find direction. But educators, he said, made a huge difference in his life.

"All of us have had an inspirational teacher, one who stands out as having inspired us to be better people," Allen said. "We wanted to recognize those teachers and show them some appreciation, something they too seldom receive."

Nominations for next year's awards are being solicited. Students are asked to write in one page or less why the teacher they nominated should be selected. Nomination letters should be addressed to: Teachers of Excellence, Allen Law Building, 1109 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso, IN 46383.