Oswego elementary school teacher a Military Patriot Award winner

Cynthia Niles, a fourth grade teacher at Prairie Point Elementary School in Oswego, was recently honored with the prestigious Military Patriot Award, a press statement from Oswego School District 308 announced.

The award acknowledges an "outstanding, currently serving military member who has shown incredible courage and determination to fulfill his/her duties," the press statement read. "In addition, this individual works diligently to find ways to assure that services and support systems are in place for all military veterans both now and in the future."

A member of the Air National Guard in Peoria for 27 years, Niles currently serves as an Aircraft Maintenance Deputy Group Commander. Once a month, during a drill weekend, Niles can be found leading a couple hundred airmen, who work on C-130 cargo aircrafts.

"It was at a very young age, when she first experienced an F-16 Fighting Falcon Aircraft fly overhead, that she developed her passion and realization that she would one day be a part of an organization that flies fighter aircrafts," the statement read.

Niles, in the statement, gave much credit for her ability to continue in the military to her husband Ben Niles, an industrial technology teacher at Oswego East High School. During her 2005 deployment to Kuwait, Niles took care of their two daughters, as well as all other items that needed attention.

"It was during this deployment that their one-year-old became seriously ill. He took her to many of the doctor appointments in search of an answer to her health issues all by himself," the statement continued. "Cynthia believes he is her real hero and an integral part to her successful Air Guard career."

"I am very humbled and proud to have received this award," Niles said. "It is a rewarding experience being able to bring to generations (veterans and students together)."

Once a year, Niles conducts an all-encompassing Veteran's Day assembly where veterans feel loved and appreciated. Niles also has her students write letters to military service members through the Writing Without Tears program, write to deployed members of the Senior Center veterans, and sing Happy Birthday to a World War II veteran.

Niles has also been a liaison to three students' families that have had deployed brothers during the time that they were in her class.

"She has relied on her military training to get her through these current tough times and believes you need to rely on your family, friends and most importantly, your teammates," the statement read. "Her focus this year with her students is to build on positive relationships and give attention to those who need it."

"Don't get overwhelmed with the unknown of how everything will work," Niles said, "But work on building a positive rapport with those around you, including students."