A Tribute to Advisors

by: Olivia Walton

Linda Beck and Delia Pergande are two very intelligent, understanding, and personable people, but what makes them truly unique is their outstanding commitment to the YMCA youth. Both Advisor Hall of Fame inductees, Beck and Pergande work without fail to serve their Y-Club students to the best of their abilities.

Ms. Linda Beck is a World Language teacher at the Sayre School in Lexington, Kentucky. She has been a Y-Club Advisor for thirty-six years, though not consecutively and not at the same schools. Dr. Delia Pergande is a history teacher at Sayre and has been involved with the Kentucky YMCA since it really picked up at Sayre eight years ago.

Both Ms. Beck and Dr. Pergande feel very special to have been included in the Advisor Hall of Fame. Dr. Pergande says she was “so excited and so proud” to be inducted. “We feel absolutely appreciated,” Ms. Beck explained.

Ms. Beck prefers the KYA conference while Dr. Pergande enjoys KUNA. As a history teacher, she enjoys teaching about the world.

“US Foreign Policy is my area of study so I like teaching international issues. It’s kinda fun to see,” Dr. Pergande told the KUNA Media Corps.

Being around the Y-Club kids makes it all worth it, they both said.

“It energizes me. I love being around the kids,” says Ms. Beck.

“Teaching kids civic debate and how to grapple with opinions that are different from theirs and their political processes” is amazing to watch, Dr. Pergande explains. “You get to see people really flourish.”

Being an advisor takes a lot of courage, endless effort, and constant encouragement; three things Ms. Beck and Dr. Pergande both have. They hope their time influences their students to face the world and share their opinion passionately. One thing that really makes a difference in the students’ learning process is how they as advisors intervene.

“I’m all about enabling kids and giving them the tools,” Ms. Beck says. She thinks that learning comes best from students doing something while facing opposing sides.

Dr. Pergande agrees. She explains how when kids are “learning how to deal with that adversity and continuing the dialogue in spite of opposition” conferences like KUNA are truly preparing them for later life.

They gave some advice for new advisors;

“Go with the flow and trust your instincts to guide the kids but not control them,” Dr. Pergande says.

Ms. Beck emphasized the importance of relying on other advisors and the Y-Staff. “Trust other advisors. Relying on the staff and experienced advisors would be most helpful.”

Ms. Beck and Dr. Pergande hope to continue helping the Y-Club at the Sayre School for many years to come.

“We love it,” says Dr. Pergande.