Influential Plainwell journalism teacher Ken Zelnis to retire after 30 years

PLAINWELL -- The journalism students are talking among themselves, working on projects, picking each other's brains. CNN is being broadcast on a giant movie screen, rendering moot the blackboard.

Ken Zelnis, 56, is bouncing from student to student, where he might chat for a minute, look over their work or hand them a New York Times article of particular interest. Computers here, stacks of newspapers there, activity in every corner.

This is not your ordinary high school classroom, and Zelnis is no cookie-cutter teacher.

"Hey, Z, where's the issue with my McCain story?" asks student-reporter Matt Buck, who covered a January speech in Kalamazoo by Republican presidential candidate John McCain for a story that made the front page of the Feb. 12 issue of The Trojan Torch, Plainwell High School's student newspaper.

"Z," who will retire next week after 30 years of teaching journalism and overseeing the Torch, points Buck in the right direction, as he done with so many students."He gets to know you as a person, as a student and as a friend," said Stacy Katsafanas, a junior, who, like Buck, plans to pursue journalism as a career.

If the two find a niche in journalism, they would not be the first Zelnis students to find themselves in the newspaper business.

Dave Coverly, a 1982 Plainwell grad who studied with Zelnis, is the creator of "Speed Bump" an internationally syndicated cartoon that appears in more than 250 publications.

"Of course I'm proud of Dave, just as I'm proud of so many of the accomplishments of former students," said Zelnis, whose relationship with Coverly has changed from teacher to friend through the years.

Zelnis is one of just three outside sources Coverly occasionally uses for cartoon ideas. The other two are close friends -- one is a former cartoonist who is now a lawyer in Washington, D.C., and the other is Jim Borgman, creator of the cartoon "Zits."

Coverly credits Zelnis with giving him the guidance to understand that cartooning could be a viable profession.

"I always loved to draw cartoons, but I really didn't have any idea how to do it for a living," Coverly said. "He would bring me cartoons from the New Yorker, from newspapers, and he would show me that it was possible.

"I had never met a cartoonist, but Kenny almost made me feel like I had. He brought it home for me."

Tailoring his teaching to individual students has been a staple throughout Zelnis' career.

"His big thing is to keep us culturally literate in ways that are interesting to us," Katsafanas said. "He makes it personal."

Coverly gave a personal nod to Zelnis in his May 20 "Speed Bump" cartoon after finding out his former teacher was retiring. The cartoon depicted a retiring journalism teacher, and the name Zelnis appeared backwards on the glass door of the classroom.

"I told his wife, Julie, but he didn't know about it," Coverly said. "He's been such an important part of my life I wanted to tell the whole world what a special person he is."I have my own little venue, and I'm glad people saw it and seemed to appreciate it."

Zelnis' interest in people gives him an ability to instruct and befriend students. But he also challenges them and can be "a real solid authority figure," Buck said.

Ron Faurot, who is near the end of his second year as Plainwell High School principal, also has been the occasional target of Zelnis' challenges.

"We have had some pretty lively discussions about whether an item was appropriate for the school newspaper," Faurot said. "But it's always been respectful, and many times educational.

"He goes to bat for his students. He cares about every kid he comes in contact with. His impact on them is undeniable."

Zelnis, whose retirement plans are in the "formulation stage," said the relationships with students are what he'll miss most.

"There's a social aspect I'll never get anywhere else," he said. "Every day I say hello to a few hundred friends."

REPRINTED FROM: Kalamazoo Gazette By Jeff Barr May 31, 2008

Zelnis talks with his students during Friday morning journalism class at Plainwell High School. Zelnis has taught journalism to students for 30 years and will retire next week. (Photo by Mark Bugnaski)

http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/05/influential_plainwell_journali.html

COMMENTS FROM FORMER STAFFERS

Hey Kenny Z, congrats on your retirement! My path to a successful journalism career began with you and I'll always have fond memories of working at the Torch.
- Scott JungmanFormer Trojan Torch sports editor

Ken Zelnis is without a doubt the most influential teacher I ever had at Plainwell High School -- during my 2.5 years with the Torch. He inspired me to follow my passion for writing and communication, and even to this day that is the foundation for my career as a marketing and public relations consultant.

One of my proudest moments as a parent was when my daughter (who is finishing her sophomore year at PHS) came home to tell me she was on the Torch staff! Not only did we both follow the same journalistic path, but we had the priviledge to do so under the guidance of one of the most influential mentors in the field!

Through his 30 years at PHS, Ken Zelnis has helped build one of the top journalism programs in the state of Michigan. Along the way, has shaped the lives of countless students who will forever be thankful for the opportunity, the experience and the memories!
-Dianna (Higgs) Stampfler - 1987 Trojan Torch News Editor

Enjoy your retirement Kenny Z! You were a true inspiration to a lot of students including myself. Your laid back style and passion for teaching made entering your classroom the best part of my day. Good luck!
-Justin Jungman1996-97 Trojan Torch Sports Editor

Kenny Z was definitely one of the most influential people in my life. He helped me see that I could pursue any avenue in journalism that I wanted, and I was fortunate to do so. I was a sports writer and photographer for the Allegan County News & Gazette, then moved on to write high school sports for the Chicago Sun-Times. I then decided that I wanted to be in corporate marketing communications, which is what I do today as a creative writing manager.

All of my journalism and marcomm achievements come from one strong base ... the one that Kenny Z helped me form. I am always proud to say that I got my start on the Trojan Torch staff. I thank him for always being a friend, no matter how many years it had been since we'd last spoken.

Best of luck to you in retirement! Thank you certainly doesn't seem like enough to say, but at the same time it says so much.
-Shannon (Cunningham) Fairlamb (PHS 1990)
1989-1990 Trojan Torch editor of photography

`Speed Bump' honors Plainwell journalism teacher

KALAMAZOO -- Looking for a little local comedy on a national stage? You don't even have to leave your easy chair.

Just turn to Page B6 of today's Kalamazoo Gazette and check out ''Speed Bump,'' a staple of the Gazette's comics page created by 1982 Plainwell High School graduate Dave Coverly. Today's rendition makes reference to a retiring journalism teacher.

Inside sources say it is Ken Zelnis, who is retiring from Plainwell High School after 30 years. Zelnis' journalism class produces the Plainwell High School student newspaper the Trojan Torch, for which Coverly was a cartoonist.

In the comic, ''Student Torch'' is clearly visible on the front page of a newspaper the teacher is holding as he makes his retirement announcement to the class. On the outside of the window of the classroom door is ``Zelnis,'' printed backward to face the hallway.

This may be Zelnis' most widespread recognition, but it's not the first time his work -- and his students -- have been noticed. The Torch has won several Michigan Interscholastic Press Association awards.

REPRINTED FROM: Kalamazoo Gazette. By Jeff Barr (May 20, 2008)

http://www.mlive.com/kalamazoo/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-29/1211295022133810.xml&coll=7