Wyatt and Crystal Durgan Named Citizens of the Year
Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird has selected Wyatt and Crystal Durgan as the 2020 Citizen of the Year recipients for their unwavering devotion to the improvement of students’ lives in Lee’s Summit, providing them with the tools for future success. They will be honored at the Truman Heartland Community Foundation’s Toast to Our Towns Gala on Sept. 26.
Wyatt and Crystal Durgan have made an unforgettable mark on the Lee’s Summit community, inspiring hundreds of youth interested in STEM through various robotics programs. They initially became involved in robotics in 2009 when their son expressed interest in a summer camp hosted by the Lee’s Summit High School robotics team. Since then, they have spent countless hours mentoring and teaching students. Each year, Wyatt and Crystal lead multiple robotics events with students ranging from kindergarten to high school.
“Wyatt and Crystal’s impact on the Lee’s Summit community is truly inspiring. They have selflessly volunteered hundreds of hours to mentor the next generation of leaders and innovators in Lee’s Summit,” said Mayor Baird. “Their enthusiasm and commitment to help each student reach their full potential makes Lee’s Summit a better place to live, learn and grow.”
In addition to preparing for competitions, Wyatt and Crystal work with students to teach them how to run a small business to fund the costs associated with the robotics team. Students learn valuable skills such as design, machining, leadership, communications, marketing, entrepreneurship and management.
Through his work with the robotics team, Wyatt recognized his passion for teaching. He left his job in database design and maintenance to pursue a master’s degree in education and recently finished his first year teaching at Lee’s Summit High School. Wyatt is also the head coach for the high school robotics program and two middle school robotics teams. Crystal works as a project manager in clinical research. Wyatt and Crystal have been married for 20 years and have one son.
The prestigious Citizen of the Year award recognizes exceptional citizens whose work and service to the community has significantly improved the quality of life for citizens of Lee’s Summit. The City has been recognizing its outstanding citizens since 1996.