And off the track, Baxton told Johnson to place just as much emphasis on academics as he did athletics.

Baxton coached Johnson in track and was his seventh-grade health teacher.

Johnson, 18, now a senior at Manson Northwest Webster, didn’t forget the impact Baxton had on him.

“For five years, his lessons have lived on and I still look up to him,” Johnson said.

Johnson nominated Baxton for a Youth Empowerment Association Kids Choice Award and presented it to him Sunday night at Fort Frenzy.

Baxton was one of 14 award winners. Hundreds of nominations were received for the seventh annual award ceremony.

“He said life will have your ups and downs, but you can overcome whatever is thrown at you,” Johnson said. “He said life is a mixed bag, and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to understand that.”

Baxton understands what it’s like to be faced with the prospect of never being able to teach or coach again.

He had a near-death experience about six years ago when he was diagnosed with amyloidosis, a disease that impacts the heart.

He eventually received a heart and lung transplant that saved his life.

“I’m not a traditional teacher,” Baxton said. “I try to use my life experience. Within my lifetime, I have struggled with education. But I also learned the benefits. And I am trying to pass it on. I have the inspiration of giving back and now I can give back.”

Johnson said he needed that extra push Baxton provided when he was in middle school.

“I was really struggling, but he helped me focus on my grades and my grades have really improved,” Johnson said. “He’s a realist. That’s what I like about him. He taught me to be mentally tough.”

Johnson said he plans to study culinary arts at Iowa Central Community College. He will also run track and cross country for the Tritons.

Baxton said it’s not about where students start out, it’s about the improvements they make along the way.

“Health is an ongoing process,” Baxton said. “At the beginning, kids struggle. But it’s the end result we are looking for. We want them to be more successful than what we were.”

Youth Empowerment Association Kids Choice Award winners

Edgar Baxton, health coach at Fort Dodge Middle School

Megan Benz, band director at Manson Northwest Webster

Judy Besch, retired teacher associate from Manson Northwest Webster

Dennys Canto, Spanish instructor, coach at Fort Dodge Senior High

Kelly Crinnigan, first-grade teacher at Butler Elementary School

The Rev. Jim Davis, of Zion Lutheran Church in Gowrie

Barb Evans, food service at Fort Dodge Senior High

Pam McBride, fifth-grade social studies teacher at Southeast Valley

Glenda Paulson, eighth-grade social studies teacher at Fort Dodge Middle School

Nick Pederson, of Fort Dodge Baseball Association president

Lauren Winter, science teacher at Fort Dodge Senior High

Community caring award — Patrick Buckley for his volunteer services and support of Youth Empowerment Association

In memoriam — Jeff Paulson, bus driver for Manson Northwest Webster

Ohana award — South Central Calhoun students

• The program was presented in honor of Ralph Johnston, the biggest supporter of the Youth Empowerment Association