April 30, 2021- Boerne ISD officially inducted the Boerne’s Best Distinguished Alumni Class of 2021 Friday at The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch. This year’s honorees are Sergeant Major Matthew Williams (BHS, 2000), Arley Sueltenfuss (BHS, 1954), and Dr. Sheryl Lynn Fellows Bishop (BHS,1970), with the Benefactor Award being presented to Helen Shinn.
To view the induction videos, please click on the highlighted names in the article below.
This is the second class of Boerne’s Best inductees, with the first being enshrined in the class of 2020. Boerne's Best inductees are individuals who have graduated from Boerne ISD at least 10 years ago or later, have achievements that set them above and beyond the standard in their profession, and have achievements that set them above and beyond the standard in community service.
“We are extremely proud to induct this year's Boerne’s Best honorees,” said Boerne’s Best Chair and Boerne ISD Athletic Director Stan Leech. “The alumni this year are the epitome of what Boerne’s Best is, outstanding members of the community, and they have gone on to represent our city and our schools in the highest possible way. The class of 2021 truly are distinguished alumni,” Leech said.
Sgt. Major Matthew Williams is a highly decorated Army Special Forces Green Beret. Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Trump in October 2019 for his life-saving actions while deployed in Afghanistan in 2008. The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members.
Throughout his career, Williams deployed multiple times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Juniper Shield and is recognized as an American Hero.
Arley Sueltenfuss is a legend in Boerne and the Texas Hill Country. Sueltenfuss worked for 34 years at Boerne State Bank. He began in 1956 as a teller and rose through the ranks to become president and CEO. He served on the Board of Directors of the Guadalupe Valley Telephone Cooperative for 30 years. Sueltenfuss was active in many civic organizations including Kendall County Fair Association, Kendall County Junior Livestock Show, Boerne Rural Fire Association, Boerne Cemetery Foundation, Berges Fest, and others. Sueltenfuss also served six years in the Army Reserves
Arley Ray Sueltenfuss passed away on March 3, 2020
Dr. Sheryl Lynn Fellows Bishop is recognized as an expert social behavioral scientist in her field of extreme environments. In her long and distinguished career, Bishop’s expertise was frequently sought out by NASA and other government agencies. She retired as Professor Emeritus and Social Psychologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School of Nursing, Medicine, Health Sciences, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences where she served from 1992-2019. Since 1996, Dr. Bishop has served as lecturer, faculty, and co-chair for the Master’s program and summer Space Studies Program for the departments of Space Life Science and Space and Society at the International Space University, Strasbourg, France.
Dr. Bishop is a founding member, Board of Trustee member and Senior Editor for the Journal of the Society of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, Contributing Editor for Life Sciences for Habitation (formerly the Journal of Life Support and Biospheric Sciences) and Review Editor for the Journal of Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine among numerous others and serves as an Advisory Board member for the Astrosociology Research Institute, promoting the new field of Astrosociology.
Helen Shinn is the recipient of the 2021 Benefactor Award for her tireless efforts helping to make Boerne ISD what it is today. Shinn passionately taught first and second grade at Boerne ISD for decades. After retirement, her servant’s heart and her love for education continued with her volunteering her time at Fabra Elementary School for many years, which included bringing home-cooked goodies for students and teachers, or lending a hand with whatever she could help out with. Shinn also spent many years after retirement volunteering at the Central Office to help organize the annual Convocations ceremony, escort visitors, welcome new teachers and help organize luncheons, among many other items.
Boerne ISD thanks Helen Shinn for her many years of hard work and dedicated service for our community.
