Tyler Hansbrough and Deborah Callahan

Tyler Hansbrough was born November 3, 1985 to Tami Wheat and Dr. Gene Hansbrough in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He attended Poplar Bluff High School where he led the Mules to two state championships during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons. In 2005 the Mules would go on to become the number one high school team in the nation after defeating Vashon High School. During his high school carrier Tyler made the Missouri All-State team twice.

Tyler received a scholarship to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) where he became a three-time first-team All American and was named the 2007-2008 National Player of the Year. He scored the second most points in UNC history and became 15th on the ACC all time scoring list. During his UNC career the Tar Heels won 90 of 108 games. In 2009 he led UNC to a NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. On February 10, 2010 his UNC jersey number was retired.

Tyler was drafted 13th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers.

Deborah Callahan grew up on a farm in southeast Kansas and is the youngest of six children. She graduated from Humboldt High School and continued her education at Pittsburg University. She graduated from Pittsburg State University with a degree in recreational therapy, recreational administration, and psychology. A few years later she returned to college to get her teaching degree in math, physical education, and health.

Her moral support comes from her husband Randy and her two children Eric and Staci.

Debbie has been teaching high school mathematics for twenty seven years. The first seven years were in Pasadena, Texas where she coached several sports including volleyball, basketball, track and sponsored the cheerleaders. The next eight years were in Garden Grove, California. She is currently in her twelfth year at Poplar Bluff High School. She is the mathematics department chair and teaches Algebra II and Pre-Calculus.

Debbie has been recognized by receiving the Golden Apple Award, Teacher of the quarter, and the Shining Star. She is a member of Who’s Who among American Teachers and on the National Honor roll for teachers. She was nominated for the Disney teacher of the year award. Debbie is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Mathematics.

Debbie’s greatest moments are when she sees the light bulb go on for a student that has worked hard. It’s at that moment she feels that she has made a difference. She loves teaching and can’t imagine doing anything else in her life. She is so proud of her students and the hard work they put into such a difficult subject. She believes that it’s not the great teacher that makes the student but the students that make a teacher great.

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