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Why he became an educator: Lee's father, also a teacher, kept his son supplied with art equipment and encouraged him to become an art educator.

Memorable experience: Many of Lee's students have won awards and found professional success in the art world. "Any time my students reach the top, it's a thrill for me," he says.

How he will spend the money: After paying off some bills, Lee hopes to visit the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and view paintings of N.C.

and Andrew Wyeth at the Brandywine River Museum in Pennsylvania.

Lester Lee could make a good living as an artist and illustrator.

Instead, he sculpts bright futures for his students.

"He has chosen to go into education instead," Woods Cross High School Principal Vickie Ingram says. "He takes his ability and uses it to transform students into great artists."

Lee's students speak of a generosity of spirit that doesn't end when dismissal bells ring. He involves them in designing scenery for Wood Cross High School musicals, supports their participation in community art shows and spends his own time helping them with projects.

Former student Willy Beers, an art teacher who owns a pottery business, remembers becoming interested in ancient Indian pottery during his time as Lee's student. Using ancient methods, Beers built a kiln in Utah's west desert, and Lee devoted a Saturday to helping him.

"We were learning together," Beers recalls. "It was a great experience to go out there and fire pots with him."

Lee wins the confidence of diffident teenagers by being absolutely nonjudgmental, Ingram said.

"Art classes have a tendency to collect all of the students nobody else knows what to do with," Lee said. "But quite often, these are the ones who excel artistically. I'm glad to have them."

During his high school day, Beers observed Lee encouraging a student whose physical disabilities prevented him from painting in the typical way. Lee taught the boy about the masters of abstract art, and encouraged him to slap paint onto canvas in ways his capabilities allowed.

"He made beautiful abstract paintings, and won an award," Beers remembered. "I think that any other teacher would have thought he couldn't do much. Lester let him go to town with it."

- Celia R. Baker