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The St. Joseph Award, in honor of the patron saint of Cotter High School, is given annually to one or more individuals who have contributed substantial amounts of their time, talents, and/or resources to the Cotter community over a number of years. This award is one of the most prestigious honors Cotter bestows.
This year’s winner is truly an anomaly – he is a jack-of-all trades and somehow a master of them all!
When you mention Mark Rocekers’ name around Cotter you automatically think of the mathematician & the musician; the director & the producer; the set-designer & the lighting technician; the prom coordinator & the “piano man” – and the list just goes on and on and on.
Mark has been at Cotter for 19 years. When he was hired as a math teacher back in 1993 I really wonder if he checked out all of the fine print that must have been in his contract - especially the part that said “beware you will be the junior class advisor forever.”
Mark is master of the balancing act. In case you wonder what he “officially” does around here – I’ll gladly tell you…
His main job of course is that of a math instructor – he teaches Algebra II, Statistics, & AP Stats – he spends his days doing this and doing it very well! After hours, on weekends, and in his “spare time”, he is…
HS & JHS musical director, set designer & builder
One-Act play director
Spring play director
Accompanist for the show choir, concert choir, school liturgies & just about anything else we can dream up for him to do
Prom coordinator, organizer, planner, ticket seller & decorator
Finds time to also chaperone the Senior Class trip
It doesn’t stop at Cotter either. Did you know…that he’s a great community volunteer as well!?!?
He sings, he dances, he acts & he directs summer theatre productions @ the area.
His music ministry in local parishes puts him at more liturgies (Masses) on weekends than most religious.
He is also the wedding musician extraordinaire – for faculty, students, family, and friends.
No matter what is asked of him he does it with style, with passion, and with a smile on his face. Mark is one of a kind and we are so very blessed to have him as part of the Cotter family.
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