DENTON, Texas – Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato made a visit to Ryan High School in Denton to surprise one of the teachers that also is a Texas Motor Speedway Speedway Club member and season ticket holder.
Sato came to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex on Wednesday as part of the Indianapolis 500 Champion’s Tour to help promote the upcoming Verizon IndyCar Series race for the Rainguard Water Sealers 600 on Saturday, June 10, at Texas Motor Speedway.
The high school was holding a retirement ceremony for 11 of its teachers and Karen Guenther was among the audience of more than 200 faculty members supporting her outgoing colleagues.
Principal Vernon Reeves saved Sato for the close of the ceremony. He told the faculty that he wanted to introduce a new teacher that would begin next year as the new driver’s education teacher for the students. And in walked Sato much to their surprise.
Little did Guenther, a 33-year veteran of the Denton ISD and 36th overall in education, know that she also would be honored even though she was not among those retiring.
Texas Motor Speedway wanted to show their appreciation for her loyalty to the speedway and for being an avid Indy-car fan, so they delivered the freshly crowned Indy 500 champ to do the honors. Sato, who received a standing ovation from the faculty, addressed the teachers to discuss his career path as well as how important they are in molding the future of our world.
In addition, Denton Ryan High School Principal Vernon Reeves said that in all of his years at the school he had never seen Guenther cry … until Wednesday.
Sato performed the ceremonial Indy 500 champion’s milk toast in champagne flutes with Guenther and then presented her with a mini-TMS helmet he personally signed and a TMS “No Limits” backpack full of goodies. She choked up speaking to her colleagues about the surprise visit and that led to tears of joy. “Unbelievably surprised,” said Guenther, who serves as Ryan High’s campus testing coordinator. “When he came in, I knew he was in town for the media tour so I thought it was going to be an educational thing. But when they called my name, it was a total shock.”
To see a video highlight of the event, click below.
Video, photos and information provided courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway
