Oct. 16, 2007
Memo To: All Members of the Senior Class
From: Morton Owen Schapiro
Each year Williams seniors have an opportunity to appreciate superior teaching by nominating a secondary school teacher who played an important role in their lives for the Olmsted Prizes awarded on Class Day in June. The recipients, usually four, from all kinds of schools and locations, are brought to Williamstown and presented with $3,000; an additional $2,500 goes to that teacher’s school. Furthermore, every nominated teacher receives a certificate of recognition.
Devoted teachers often receive little recognition for their efforts, and students have too few chances to reward them. If one of your secondary school teachers who is still teaching (retired teachers are considered for the prize only under exceptional circumstances) stands out as a person deserving an Olmsted Prize, please submit his/her name on the form linked below. Keep in mind that your nomination will play the most important role in our deliberation process. (See Nomination Guidelines.)
Completed nominations can be submitted to Maggie Driscoll by e-mail attachment (mdriscoll@williams.edu) or by hard copy to the Office of the Vice President for Strategic Planning and Institutional Diversity, Hopkins Hall, 3rd floor by Monday, November 26.
The committee making the selections will consist of David Richardson, Professor of Chemistry and chair of the committee; three other faculty members; three students from the junior class; and Maggie Driscoll, secretary. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Professor Richardson at x3201 or Ms. Driscoll at x4376.
In 2005, the Olmsted Prizes received national attention when our Commencement speaker, Thomas L. Friedman, op-ed columnist for The New York Times, highlighted the Program and the Prize recipients in his column, "Behind Every Grad...".
I urge you to take this opportunity to participate in this wonderful Williams tradition by honoring a member of the teaching profession.