"You were fantastic in your presentation to our student body, faculty, and to my MSASC Advisers at the two-day workshop. Your message is so meaningful, and you truly practice and live what you "preach" in your program "Caring is Contagious."  This is such an important message for all of us in today's society and is particularly significant to those of us impacted by Hurricane Katrina.  We have been blessed by many volunteers who have been so caring and are doing so much to help people rebuild their lives after the devastation. We are so thankful for all of these wonderful people, like you and your fellow church members, who have given so unselfishly of themselves in this time of great need."
Gayle Ladner Bentz, Director, Mississippi State Assoc. of Student Councils
(Gayle is referencing Andy’s visit to her high school and to the state’s conference for student council advisors. She is also referencing Andy’s week long volunteer work with his church helping rebuild homes in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina.)

"I heard you speak at the Southern Association of Student Council’s conference in Greenville, South Carolina. You were so awesome! You were so funny and had such a great message.  I am not exaggerating that 90% of what I learned at that conference I learned from you.  It was just a phenomenal message.  Whenever we went back to school today, we used what you told us about "Caring is contagious, but so is negativity" and shared it with the rest of our council.  We told our council how you were the best part of the whole thing.  I am still in shock of how talented you are and how well you relate things. 

I also wanted to tell you that today I actually got to use your tactic of positive communication.  We are selling our class T-Shirts and so I have been going around using "2-way communication" to sell them.  I was talking to a kid who I figured wouldn't buy one but I was going to ask anyway.  I kept trying to coax him to buy one and he just really got mad. He told me all this stuff about how he wasn't going to buy one and he wasn't going to the game or the pep rally. Then, just like you told us, I didn’t get sarcastic with him, but I told him "Well that's cool, but I would still like to see you there". It really did shock him!  I really do appreciate the great advice you gave us.  Thanks a lot."
Zeke Lollis, Student Leader, Mauldin, South Carolina.  



"The best part of the Saskatchewan Student Leadership conference was your presentation.  It got me so motivated and encouraged me to do better in my life.  I used to have such bad self esteem and when you said "care is contagious, but so is negativity" for the first time, I thought hard about that statement.  I wrote it in my agenda and think about your statement almost everyday.  It really got me thinking about the way I was perceiving the world around me and the way I was dealing with the situations at hand.  I applied it to my life in EVERY way.  Since your presentation, I have found a happy medium in my life and encourage myself to be happy, because if I am unhappy and others see how something affects me, that may encourage them to become unhappy.  This way I can spread happiness upon everyone I meet.  Over the past few months, I have become a better person to not only my family, but society as well.  I have found a great group of friends and enjoy everyday.  I have a huge soft spot for helping others, and I realize that I do so much for others.  I put everyone above myself, with some exceptions.       

Don't ever quit your job; you never know how many more people you may impact just as much as you impacted me.  YOU ARE AWESOME!!"
Jessica Comaniuk, Student Leader, Winston Knoll Collegiate, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

"I am a first year student at Queens...and I saw you speak this orientation week here. Wow ... I wanted to honestly let you know that your speech was a life changing event that I will never forget. You are very talented and WOW did I ever relate to a lot of the things that you talked about. Thank you so much for giving me such an amazing memory for my frosh week."
Nicole Northwood, first year student 2005-’06, Queens University, Kingston, ON

"I would strongly recommend Andy's presentation to anyone who is looking to provide some motivation for their staff or organization. His use of humour and audience participation keeps students interested in his speech while he delivers an important message about caring. He tells personal stories that the audience can relate to. Most importantly, Andy presents in a style that suggests he wants to help us, instead of the "I am going to save the world and am going to tell you how you can too" approach that many of us have seen."
Greg Connell, Graduate Hall Director-Jennings Hall Residence, University of Florida

"I did a survey of all the redshirts (our Orientation Week volunteers) at the end of the whole week. So many of them listed Andy as their favorite part! The UNB Orientation Program will always have Andy back to speak to our Orientation leaders. He embodies in his 2 hour speech everything that we are trying to get across to our volunteers and more. He is funny, articulate, intelligent, down to earth and approachable. Expect to leave his presentations with a new outlook; you'll never go back to being a wallflower!"
Jessica Stutt, BA III, Student Union Orientation Chair '05, Univ. of New Brunswick

"I have reviewed all the evaluation forms for last September and the Peer Mentor's truly loved your presentation! I have personally benefited as well and have begun chatting more extensively with individuals and students. (From small talk to smart talk, just like you said!)."
Judy MacKinnon, Counsellor, Peer Mentor Coordinator, Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario.

"You made a big impact on us kids today with your laughter. I saw kids who didn’t do their homework (me) do homework (me, myself and I!). Thank you for reminding that school is about learning AND having fun! "
Sarah Buchan, Grade 9 student, Sacred Heart HS, Yorkton, Saskatchewan

"Your presentation is awesome. My short dialogue of your presentation would include the fact that you are genuine and sincere; something young students pick up on right away. You speak from the heart and what you have shared with your young audiences stays with them today, tomorrow and into the future. I have seen that in reality. You give life to the word presentation and to the whole aspect of what a motivational speaker is all about. You ROCK in the Land Of Orange!" 
Gary Gawryliuk, Student Council Advisor, Yorkton RHS, Saskatchewan

Andy, here are some sample student comments on your presentation:

"I always wanted to try out for the musical , but never had the courage before"
We keep hearing variations of "I thought about what Andy said, and decided to try..."
You more than met our expectations of what a speaker could do!
The staff comments to me on several IMPACTs of your presentation:
The junior class advisor had to put in 2 additional orders for class t-shirts after your program!
50 students showed up to Junior class meeting (usually only the officers are there).
Comments that even though teachers are older, they could relate to what you were saying.
Gale Lewis, Student Council Advisor, Hamburg HS, New York