(Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP) Alvirne High School students applaud and cheer Air Force Lt. Col. Christian Cheetham as he makes his way to the speaking platform to receive the 2023 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year Award Monday. A teacher at Avlrine for 8 years, Cheetham oversees the school's Junior ROTC program.

HUDSON — Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Christian Cheetham, for eight years a teacher in Alvirne High School’s Wilbur H. Palmer Career and Technical Education Center, showed up with other teachers Monday morning to what he thought was a Spirit Week assembly in the school gym.

But when state Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut took the microphone from Alvirne principal Steve Beals and began explaining why he and other Department of Education representatives were in attendance at a school event, Cheetham appeared to be feeling the spotlight turning toward him.

Of the 44 “fantastic nominees” for the 2023 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year award, Edelblut said “there was one nominee who stood out among the group … this individual is well-known in the Hudson community, and he just may be the most fit Teacher of the Year we have ever awarded. Can anybody guess?” he said to laughs.

Speculation that Edelblut was referring to Cheetham was confirmed moments later, when he announced that the selection committee’s choice “loves the movie ‘Hoosiers’ and is an Ultimate Frisbee fanatic.”

Applause and cheers erupted as Cheetham began walking toward the speaking platform from the rear of the gym, several of his Junior ROTC students carried a large banner onto the stage contratulating Cheetham and his school.

(Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP) U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Christian Cheetham, an Alvirne High teacher who oversees the school's Junior ROTC program, chats with state Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut after Cheetham received the state 2023 Teacher of the Year award at a school-wide assembly Monday.

Other cadets picked up hand-held “confetti cannons” and fired them simultaneously, filling the air with multi-colored confetti that eventually enveloped Cheetham and anyone standing near him.

A full story featuring additional comments from state and school officials, educators and Cheetham’s fellow military officers, along with more photos of the event, will appear in The Sunday Telegraph.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.