The Singer Family Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching honors high school teachers who have made a lasting impact on the personal and academic growth of their students. The recipients of this year\u2019s award are Marvin Gordon Hall, from Campion College High School in Kingston, Jamaica; Deborah Morand, from Fitchburg High School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Lisa Ricci, from Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica, New York; and Jesse Warren, from Pomona High School in Arvada, Colorado.<\/p>\n
Each year, seniors in the College are invited to nominate a high school teacher for the prize. The award recipients are invited to Rochester to be recognized at the University\u2019s Commencement ceremony. In addition to accepting this honor, this year\u2019s award winners received $3,000 and a plaque, $2,500 for their school, and coverage of all travel expenses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Paul Singer Family Foundation feels strongly that while devoted secondary school teachers play a vital role in the intellectual development of American society, they often receive little recognition or acclaim for their endeavors,\u201d said Gordon Singer, son of Paul Singer \u201866, who funds\u00a0the prize.<\/p>\n
Marvin Gordon Hall, Mathematics and Robotics, Campion College High School<\/strong> Auden, who graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in mathematics and a bachelor\u2019s degree in physics, says that Hall \u201cactively got me excited about the field of mathematics.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe listened to some of the many ideas I used to come up with. But rather than pass them over as the wishful thinking of an adolescent, he gave me a copy of Dan Kennedy\u2019s How to Make Millions with Your Ideas,\u201d says Auden, who participated in the University\u2019s Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year program.<\/p>\n Auden notes that Hall has taken a hands-on approach in his many years as an educator and public speaker, and as the founder of an organization, Halls of Learning, dedicated to empowering the lives of people through education, no matter their background. Although O\u2019Neil, who graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in biological sciences, was originally more interested in STEM subjects, Morand was able to open up an entirely new world to him. \u201cMrs. Morand\u2019s passion, her obvious and deep caring for her students, her generosity, resulted in a love of literature that hasn\u2019t left me since,\u201d he says. \u201cShe listened, she advised, and she treated me not as a subordinate, but as an equal, giving me the freedom to learn and grow without fear or embarrassment.\u201d<\/p>\n Describing Morand\u2019s teaching style as collaborative, O\u2019Neil also notes that she \u201cagreed to guide the debate club I founded, and what would have been one semester of reading and writing became four years of mentorship and trust.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lisa Ricci, Italian teacher, Thomas R. Proctor High School<\/strong> Contento, who graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in neuroscience and a bachelor\u2019s degree in anthropology, says that Ricci taught him more than just the language of Italian. \u201cWe learned to view Italian culture as a discourse, a contextualized exchange of words and ideas that varied by region,\u201d he says. \u201cWe explored the structure of Italian government and politics, while asking critical questions.\u201d<\/p>\n Characterizing Ricci\u2019s teaching style as innovative and thought-provoking, Contento emphasizes Ricci\u2019s impact on his University experience, as well as on his personal growth.<\/p>\n \u201cI can state with confidence that Lisa\u2019s classes have set me on a life course filled with critical inquiry, and most importantly, understanding the value and salience of cultural differences,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Jesse Warren, English teacher, Pomona High School<\/strong> Corning, who graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in environmental sciences with a minor in linguistics, credits Warren with fostering intellectual debate, personal growth, and passion in his classroom. \u201cHe galvanized and inspired students to see their studies as more than just busywork,” she says.<\/p>\n Because of Warren\u2019s challenging, innovative assignments, as well as his guidance, Corning says that she \u201cagain saw school for what it could be: a platform for change, a stepping-stone to an endless expanse of opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Corning also emphasized the impact Warren made on her academic career by inspiring her to revive and pursue her interests in conservation, writing, and the outdoors. \u201cWithout him, I may not be where I am today, poised to graduate into the field of environmental science and prepared to change our planet one word, one person, one community at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Award recipients are invited to Rochester to be recognized at the University\u2019s Commencement ceremony, and receive cash prizes for themselves and their schools.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1002,"featured_media":254212,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[486,4536],"class_list":["post-253612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-community","tag-awards","tag-commencement"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nNominated by Mark Auden \u201917<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDeborah Morand, English teacher and Student Council Advisor, Fitchburg High School<\/strong>
\nNominated by Brian O\u2019Neil \u201917<\/em><\/p>\n
\nNominated by Nicholas Contento \u201917<\/em><\/p>\n
\nNominated by Shelby Corning \u201917<\/em><\/p>\n