Photo: Dr. Jake Long (left) presents George “Bud” Zorman with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Arkansas Diamond Award for his positive contributions to his community.
George “Bud” Zorman, longtime Mountain Home educator and military veteran, received the Arkansas Diamond Award from Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston on Thursday at the conclusion of his final veterans ceremony as NJROTC instructor at Mountain Home High School.
Zorman, who will retire at the end of this school year after 20 years as an educator, served in the United States Marine Corps for 21 years before becoming a history teacher. He has spent the past five years leading the high school’s NJROTC program and led a youth tour to Washington D.C. for 10 years. “Honor, courage, commitment, good character, good citizenship, patriotism, mutual respect and passion are the things that I would want to be remembered for,” he said of his career as an educator.
The Arkansas Diamond Award is the highest honor one can receive from the Secretary of State’s office. According to the Secretary of State’s website, “The person who receives this award has made significant contributions to his or her community through their time, talent and dedication. Their service is one of exemplary quality. Having made an outstanding accomplishment in a field of service may also qualify for this award.”
MHPS Superintendent Dr. Jake Long presented Zorman with the award at the conclusion of Thursday’s Freedom is Not Free Veterans Ceremony that was held in Dunbar Auditorium. “Mr. Zorman has worked hard to instill patriotism into his students. He uses real-life learning experiences to teach the importance of service and honor to his students,” Long said. “When I read the description of the Arkansas Diamond Award, I immediately saw how fitting Mr. Zorman would be for this honor. He has contributed so much to his field of service and to our community-at-large.”
Zorman, who is notorious for planning every moment of the veterans ceremony, was surprised when Long announced the award during his closing remarks.
“The award was quite a surprise, and it caused me to reflect and be thankful for the opportunity to teach and mentor such wonderful students over the last 20 years,” he said. “They are the reason for me receiving this award.”