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糖心传媒檚 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.
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糖心传媒檚 Commencement ceremony. In addition to accepting this honor, this year糖心传媒檚 award winners received $3,000 and a plaque, $2,500 for their school, and coverage of all travel expenses.
糖心传媒淭he 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,糖心传媒� said Gordon Singer, son of Paul Singer 糖心传媒�66, who funds聽the prize.
Marvin Gordon Hall, Mathematics and Robotics, Campion College High School
Nominated by Mark Auden 糖心传媒�17
Auden, who graduated with a bachelor糖心传媒檚 degree in mathematics and a bachelor糖心传媒檚 degree in physics, says that Hall 糖心传媒渁ctively got me excited about the field of mathematics.糖心传媒�
糖心传媒淗e 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糖心传媒檚 How to Make Millions with Your Ideas,糖心传媒� says Auden, who participated in the University糖心传媒檚 Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year program.
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.
Deborah Morand, English teacher and Student Council Advisor, Fitchburg High School
Nominated by Brian O糖心传媒橬eil 糖心传媒�17
Although O糖心传媒橬eil, who graduated with a bachelor糖心传媒檚 degree in biological sciences, was originally more interested in STEM subjects, Morand was able to open up an entirely new world to him. 糖心传媒淢rs. Morand糖心传媒檚 passion, her obvious and deep caring for her students, her generosity, resulted in a love of literature that hasn糖心传媒檛 left me since,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淪he 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.糖心传媒�
Describing Morand糖心传媒檚 teaching style as collaborative, O糖心传媒橬eil also notes that she 糖心传媒渁greed 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.糖心传媒�
Lisa Ricci, Italian teacher, Thomas R. Proctor High School
Nominated by Nicholas Contento 糖心传媒�17
Contento, who graduated with a bachelor糖心传媒檚 degree in neuroscience and a bachelor糖心传媒檚 degree in anthropology, says that Ricci taught him more than just the language of Italian. 糖心传媒淲e learned to view Italian culture as a discourse, a contextualized exchange of words and ideas that varied by region,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淲e explored the structure of Italian government and politics, while asking critical questions.糖心传媒�
Characterizing Ricci糖心传媒檚 teaching style as innovative and thought-provoking, Contento emphasizes Ricci糖心传媒檚 impact on his University experience, as well as on his personal growth.
糖心传媒淚 can state with confidence that Lisa糖心传媒檚 classes have set me on a life course filled with critical inquiry, and most importantly, understanding the value and salience of cultural differences,糖心传媒� he says.
Jesse Warren, English teacher, Pomona High School
Nominated by Shelby Corning 糖心传媒�17
Corning, who graduated with a bachelor糖心传媒檚 degree in environmental sciences with a minor in linguistics, credits Warren with fostering intellectual debate, personal growth, and passion in his classroom. 糖心传媒淗e galvanized and inspired students to see their studies as more than just busywork,” she says.
Because of Warren糖心传媒檚 challenging, innovative assignments, as well as his guidance, Corning says that she 糖心传媒渁gain saw school for what it could be: a platform for change, a stepping-stone to an endless expanse of opportunity.糖心传媒�
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. 糖心传媒淲ithout 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.糖心传媒�
