Mr. Pfeffer was a workshop teacher at Northmont for almost 20 years. He coached girls and boys basketball at the Middle School and High School. Sam was a class advisor for multiple graduating classes and he was the founder and advisor for “Bolts Fostering Bolts”, a program dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care or adverse living conditions as Northmont High School. Sam met the needs of students, encouraged their talents, and fostered self-esteem in two distinct ways while teaching. First, Sam provided a classroom and taught a set of skills to students that have served many far past their time in his classroom. Many of his students who did not believe they fit into an academic setting or did not enjoy school, found a safe harbor in his classroom where they were taught skills that allowed them to find their passions in trade work after high school. Second, Sam’s work for “Bolts Fostering Bolts” allowed for students who were new to the building and dealing with harsh realities outside of school a safe person to talk to, someone who understood where they were coming from while giving them access to resources they previously did not have. Sam was Educator of the Year for Northmont High School in 2019. In addition, he was honored at the Top of the Class dinner more than once for being an influential teacher to a valedictorian. He also has been honored three times as an impactful educator by students at the MVCTC National Technical Honor Society. Sam has served the youth of our community through years of coaching and teaching, developing strong personal relationships through his humor, hands on education, and sharing his story. He also made an impact on the foster of children at Northmont High School through the Bolts Fostering Bolts program. Sam also continues to work to promote the legacy of the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home (OSSO) in Xenia. In 1997 the Home was closed by the State of Ohio and the building and grounds were purchased by Legacy International for use in their multifaceted ministries in 1999. Sam and many of his fellow ex-pupils want to preserve and protect the long and vibrant history of the OSSO and he is currently the Vice President and President elect of the Home History Fund, an organization dedicated to support the preservation and sharing of Ohio’s heritage at the OSSO. His volunteer work includes fundraising, creating, supervising, and implementing programs that will celebrate the legacy of the Home. This organization has raised millions of dollars to renovate the Collier Chapel on the campus grounds, refurbish the cemetery of students who died while at the Home, and collaborate with Carillon Park in Dayton to include the former OSSO campus as part of the tours they offer of local historical sites. When Sam puts his mind to something, he makes sure that it will happen and that it will be done well. He is a respected Northmont teacher, coach, and community member and exemplifies the Northmont Way.