Rhinelander’s own ‘impact influencer’

By Petty Officer First Class Steven Brandsma

On Thursday, Jan. 6, Mr. Taylor Kloehn arrived at Rhinelander High School like it was any other day.  Outside of a few extra inches of snow, the day was as routine as it could be.  As a calculus teacher, he expected to teach his classes, like usual.  Answer some math questions, like usual.  Assign some homework, like usual.  Little did he know, however, that the day was going to take a different direction.

Midshipman First Class Tyler Fredrick graduated from Rhinelander High School in the spring of 2018.  Midshipman Fredrick is a senior at the University of Wisconsin and is part of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at the university.  He is preparing to graduate in the spring as a Naval Nuclear Reactor Officer.  He is triple-majoring in Physics, Math, and Astronomy Physics.  In November of 2021, Midshipman Fredrick was asked a simple question while he was at his NROTC unit: who had a major impact on your education and pushed you to become the stand-out student you are?  With zero hesitation, Midshipman Fredrick identified Mr. Kloehn.  Midshipman Fredrick was always good at math, but, “struggled with pre-calculus and early calculus.  It was Mr. Kloehn that helped me get over that hill, and even supported me when I took calc(ulus)-two online my senior year.”

At 11 a.m. on that Thursday, Mr. Kloehn had a unique group of visitors in his classroom.  Unbeknownst to Mr. Kloehn, in walked Midshipman Fredrick, Petty Officer First Class Steven Brandsma, and Commander Matthew Sass to present Mr. Kloehn with the United States Navy “Impact Influencer Award.”  The award is presented to educators, mentors, and coaches that personify the Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.  It is through the efforts of teachers, like Mr. Kloehn, that push the next generation of Naval Leaders to succeed in fast-paced, academically challenging, and high-threat environments.  The United States Navy understands the stresses and pressures placed upon educators as we enter the third year of a world-wide pandemic.  The Impact Influencer Award was developed to acknowledge the work these teachers do on a daily basis and make sure they are recognized accordingly in front of their students and peers.

[A video of the presentation can be viewed here.]

When presented the award in front of his students, Mr. Kloehn, voice cracking, stated, “I don’t do my job because I like grading tests, or because geometry was my favorite subject in high school.  I do it because I love you guys and I get to build relationships and every once in a while they last longer than just the four years that we have together.”  He went on to say, “This is maybe the highest honor I have ever received.”  To that remark, Commander Sass, the Executive Officer for Navy Talent Acquisition Group Great Lakes, corrected Mr. Kloehn’s, saying, “This is maybe the highest honor you have received, so far.”

On the behalf of a grateful nation, the United States Navy would like to congratulate Mr. Kloehn for this well-deserved award and say, “Thank You, Sir, for everything you have done, and for everything you will do.”  Fair winds and following seas.