Rock Canyon High School teacher and athletic coach Chris Page received the surprise of his life when staff from The Ellen DeGeneres Show stopped by a school basketball game to present Page with a new car and $10, 000 worth of gift cards to Office Depot for the school. Page was selected after hundreds of parents and students sent in Facebook and e-mail messages to the show explaining what a terrific teacher and coach he is.

Article by Elizabeth Wood West with photos provided courtesy of Denise McNally

“There’s only so many thank you’s, only so many ways to say thank you, and you can never say thank you enough,” said Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) teacher and coach Chris Page in response to the recent outpouring of love and appreciation by hundreds of his students and their parents, expressed through The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The show’s film crew surprised Page, wife Kelli, and their 5-year old daughter Celie at school during a basketball game with a new Chevrolet Cruze and $10,000 in gift cards to Office Depot for school supplies for RCHS in recognition for his unwavering devotion to his students.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s Facebook account and offices were flooded with comments about Page’s cheerful demeanor and hard work ethic, how he had inspired athletes to reach their full potential, and Page’s genuine interest in his students. There were also poignant comments about Page’s reaction to his and Kelli’s loss of their unborn son several years ago and a subsequent series of miscarriages. It would be tempting to turn inward after suffering such personal loss; instead, the couple embraced the love and support offered by students, parents, and staff, thus creating a special bond that continues today. “Life is hard, and I tell the kids that bad things will happen in their lives. You have to enjoy the good moments and not dwell on disappointments,” said Page.

The campaign to recognize Page was the brainchild of RCHS parent Patty Woods, who observed Page one day after school working under the hood of his 1993 Ford Taurus in the school parking lot. “The car wouldn’t run. He was standing there working on his car and smiling, and I thought ‘that’s so typical of Mr. Page.’ He gives so much to the school and the kids, and I just thought maybe we could get him a car,” said Woods.

As a longtime fan of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which is known for its giveaways for special causes and people, Woods decided to nominate Page and see if he might be selected. After clearing her idea with Kelli – who Castle Pines residents may recognize as the morning manager at DAZBOG, , Woods and other RCHS parents began networking with students and started to post comments about Page on the show’s Facebook account. In two days, more than 70 posts had been received. The posts, along with numerous e-mails from Woods, caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres and her staff. The show’s staff devised a clever ruse to fool the unsuspecting Page: DeGeneres’ staff would come to the school and interview Page and some of his students as part of a “Fan of the Week” theme. The entire Page recognition and giveaway was filmed at RCHS and aired on the February 18 show. Page reflected, “I’ve been nominated for Teacher of the Year a few times, but never won. This is way better! The kids are an intricate part of my life. I love the connection with the kids.”

To view Chris Page’s video, please visit http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/02/ellen_surprises_a_beloved_teacher_with_a_chevy_cruze_0218.php