A sixth-grade teacher from Yuma, Arizona, Toensing made a strong impact on one of her students 21 years ago.
This week, the student, Christin Gilmer graduated from Harvard as a doctor of public health.
Gilmer who is now 33, was only 12 at the time, but she kept the message all these years.
Gilmer, who wrote a thank you note prior to her graduation, said Toensing was the first person to encourage her in the journey of studying public health.
She was the first person who passionately conveyed the plight of people living with HIV/AIDS to me," the letter said.
"I feel honored that Harvard chose to tell Christin's story, her journey, and that I was a small part of that journey," she added.
Toensing, who taught Gilmer all her sixth-grade subjects, now teaches sixth- and eighth-grade Social Studies. »