The lunchtime chatter, Food Fair stalls’ clamors for tickets and upbeat music quieted down as a voice on the microphone cut through the din. Rick Kelman called for the WHS students’ brief attention to a very special community event: the annual presentation of the Kelman Kindness Award.
This year, all eyes were on Krystle Sundberg, freshman ASG, yoga and weight training teacher and the 2026 recipient of the Kelman Kindness Award. The honor commends her commitment to encouraging and supporting her students day in and day out.
The inaugural Kelman Kindness Award was given in 2016 and named after Kelman, celebrating his vibrant encouragement for all members of the WHS campus throughout the day.
“I think when we started this, we just really wanted to build a culture of kindness,” said Missy Magpali, ASG adviser and ceramics teacher. “To celebrate that, and we wanted to have a week of [kindness], but we wanted to have something [to] kind of culminate the end of it. So we thought, what better way than to honor a staff member who exudes kindness?”
In the years since, the Kelman Kindness Award recipient has been determined through ASG student representatives who nominate and select the awardee. Then, at the end of WHS’s kindness–themed spirit week that is typically held during April, Kelman delivers the award to the highlighted staff member in front of the student body. The festivities create happy memories for all, including the awardee and contributors.
“I am without a doubt the luckiest man in the world to have my job because I get more love in a day than people get in a lifetime, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Kelman. “With everything going on in this world, we need kindness more than any other time in my lifetime.”
Sundberg has primarily been influential as one of the two ASG advisers. While her co–adviser Magpali oversees the ASG program that incorporates 10th–12th graders, Sundberg is solely responsible for the 9th grade ASG class. In the process, she has become an important role model for some of the youngest and newest additions to the WHS community.
“She’s a great leader with an amazing personality and loves to help us out,” said ASG student Levi Lockridge ‘29. “She stands out because of her amazing personality and unwavering kindness.”
Even amongst her colleagues, Sundberg has made her mark through her uplifting attitude. Her impact upon the people surrounding her is evident to all.
“Sundberg is the kindest — if not one of the kindest — human beings on campus,” said Magpali. “You can tell [because when a] student in [ASG] nominated her [for the Kelman Kindness Award], everyone agreed. She has a huge influence not only on the students. She always lights up a room.”
Sundberg’s positivity is founded upon both the intrinsic and extrinsic value she finds in influencing her students to be their best selves.
“I feel like [being kind] just makes yourself feel good, and then others feel good, and I think that’s my motivation,” said Sundberg. “I’m just sharing my kindness, and people are noticing. Hopefully, it rubs off on other people, too.”
Ultimately, the Kelman Kindness Award is meant to encourage the growth of joy and love. Applauding its recipient is one of many actions that Kelman and other WHS community members take to promote its importance.
“I think it’s important that we’re kind to each other, that we love each other, and that we tolerate even if we don’t agree with the other person,” said Kelman. “Always stay kind.”
