Mount Whitney High School unveiled a new tribute to Scott Nelson Monday afternoon.
With a few scissor cuts, Scott Nelson's two children gave a nod to the memory of their father. Above the ribbon they cut, Mount Whitney High School's new scoreboard bears the name of the longtime teacher and coach who died in a bicycle crash just before school started last yet.
"The thing that I remember is the conversations we had as we were training," Mt. Whitney Athletic Director John Perez said. "It wasn't necessarily, you know, placing, winning. Finishing. It was just the conversations we had together an the good times. And I'm going to miss those times."
John Perez was with Nelson when he crashed into a pedestrian while coming down Rocky Hill Road. The close friends started teaching and coaching together 15 years ago and Perez always noticed some special qualities that made Nelson an unforgettable teacher and friend.
"He was very competitive, but it always made him happier to see other people succeed," Perez said. "That's just the kind of person he was."
Nelson connected with a lot of students as math teacher and coach and dozens of those teens came to honor him Monday.
Students were the driving force in building the tribute to Nelson, raising almost $8,000.00 to pay for the remote-controlled, wireless scoreboard.
Lacie Ruth dedicated six months to fundraising at nearly every sporting event.
Former student Lacie Ruth said, "It's a good cause to commit something to, i mean, this is going to be here forever and it's a good way to honor him and what he's done for our school."
A Mount Whitney graduate himself, Nelson dedicated most of his life to the school and although his old number 80 will always be watching Pioneer Football, Principal Jeff Hohne sys the next generation of students won't know what they're missing.
"They'll miss the man," Principal Jeff Hohne said. "They'll miss the fries and they'll miss the mentor and they'll miss the shoulder to cry on. That's what they'll miss."
