By Ann Austink, Tribune staff writer

A new wall has been erected in the commons area of the Albert Lea High School. It isn’t meant to divide the students and faculty, it is meant to bring them, and the rest of the community, together.

The Wall of Inspiration was formed to recognize people who have touched someone’s life in a positive way.

&uot;We all know someone who has inspired us,&uot; said Brian Kuphal, one of the creators of the wall. &uot;What we hope to do is just recognize those people that are doing good things that aren’t recognized in other places. They’re real people that do wonderful things.&uot;

The wall was created in honor of the Kuphals’ son, Josh, who passed away from a stroke after he went through surgery in the summer of 2002. Josh had struggled with spina bifida since birth.

&uot;As they start to get into teen years, you see how people handle their situation and their shortcomings,&uot; Brian said. &uot;(Josh) handled it gracefully, he always looked at the positive aspects. He had a wonderful attitude.&uot;

&uot;He made me so much better than I would have been,&uot; said his mother, Kathy.

She recalled how he underwent about 30 surgeries in his life, but wouldn’t tell his friends because he didn’t want them to worry.

&uot;It was always about other people,&uot; she said.

Josh was an inspiration to his parents and others who knew him.

After his death, there were many people who came forward to help the family, said Brian.

&uot;A lot of people said how they were inspired by Josh,&uot; he said.

Brian and Kathy had heard about a wall at Prior Lake High School dedicated to a boy named Regan who was killed in a shooting in downtown Minneapolis. The Kuphals, their daughter Laura, some ALHS Student Council members and Ross Williams were invited to attend a ceremony at the high school in honor of Regan and the wall devoted to his memory.

The dedication ceremony inspired ideas for a wall at ALHS. The Kuphals turned the idea over to the ALHS student council, which formed a committee to decide who would hold a place on the Wall this year. This years’ committee was composed of a member of the student council from each grade, a member of the school board, faculty and Brian and Kathy Kuphal.

Students and faculty were asked to nominate someone who inspired them.

There were 11 recipients of the honor this year, who were then commissioned to create a tile that would display their personal legacies. The tiles were presented during the Day of Inspiration, now an annual event, and hung on the Wall in the commons.

Excerpts from the letters which nominated the honorees were read during the event.

Laura Anderson, an English teacher, was honored for her desire &uot;to help students reach their full potential.&uot;

Raissa Byer, art teacher, was said to just be a great person.

&uot;She is someone so nice she can make you smile by just smiling at her,&uot; said her nominator.

Margo Wayne, a health teacher for 27 years, &uot;makes someone better by just being around them,&uot; according to the person who nominated her. &uot;She is one of the most caring, most considerate people.&uot;

Ann Glazier, assistant to the principal, is a hard worker, has a positive outlook and never complains.

&uot;She does what she has to do,&uot; her nominator said.

Craig Nash, building custodian, known to the students as &uot;Elvis,&uot; &uot;gets the job done&uot; and is a favorite of the students, wrote the person who nominated him.

&uot;He’s been a friend and a dependable.&uot;

Robert Rowe, retired teacher, was honored for believing in his students and being aware of each students’ individual potential.

Randy Gulbrandson, alumni, was said to be the epitome of the award.

&uot;It is nearly impossible to stay in a bad mood when around Randy,&uot; wrote his nominator.

Katie Stenseth, senior, was honored because she is always there to help when others need her.

Aaron Cook, senior, was said to be an all-around good guy.

&uot;He’s the type of person you can always talk to.&uot;

Adam Elseth, senior, is known for his hard work, dedication and positive attitude.

And Garrison Haatvedt, junior, was acclaimed for being an honest, good and caring person.

Some of the people who were honored had been friends of Josh.

&uot;I know that would make him real happy,&uot; Kathy said.

&uot;I think he would think (the Wall) was a very cool thing.&uot;

Kathy and Brian hope the Wall will remain an inspiration to others.

&uot;I hope the Wall will inspire people to be better to each other,&uot; Kathy said. &uot;Everybody can be good to each other.&uot;

The Wall is for the kids, Kathy said.

&uot;I want them to be enthused and realize it’s their wall,&uot; she said. &uot;Only if the kids enjoy the Wall, will the Wall be a success,&uot; she said.

(Contact Ann Austin at ann.austin@albertleatribune.com or 379-3435.)