Bartlett teacher named outstanding secondary educator by Alumni Association
Company One, Cari Meister '95 named distinguished young alumni
Distinguished Service Award
Honorary Alumni
Alumni Rookie of the Year
Rose M. Sachs Award
Thomas M. Dolan '62 Awards
John Daniel, a health and physical education teacher at Bartlett Junior and
Senior High School in Webster, Mass., received this yearÕs Outstanding Secondary
Educator Award. Presented by the Clark Alumni Association at the Honors Convocation
preceding Commencement on May 21, the award recognizes the important role secondary
educators play in preparing students for college.
Daniel has been a health and physical education teacher at Bartlett for 14
years. During his career, Daniel served as the health education coordinator,
Drug-Free Schools grant coordinator and president of the local teachers' association.
In November 1999, he received the Webster ChildrenÕs First Award, given by the
Webster ChildrenÕs Network, for his health curriculum review. DanielÕs former
student, Kristine Martin '00, nominated him for the award.
"What makes him a great teacher is that he teaches inside and outside of the
classroom," Martin says. This is the 16th year that the Clark Alumni Association
has presented the Outstanding Secondary Educator Award. Clark seniors nominate
their high school teachers for the award and are then interviewed by a committee
of Alumni Council members about the qualifications of the nominees.
The Distinguished Young Alumnus/a Award, a new award established this year,
was presented to children's book author Cari Meister '95 and the founders
of the Boston theater group Company One: Shawn Lacount '98, M.A. Ed. '99,
Sarah Shampnois '98, Mark Vanderzee '97 and Mason Sand '00. The award recognizes young alumni for extraordinary achievement in their community
and profession and their conspicuous service to Clark. Meister has achieved
significant success as a children's books author. With the first manuscript
she submitted to Viking Press, Meister secured a five-book series a
bout a big dog named Tiny. So far, Meister has published "When Tiny was Tiny"
and "Tiny's Bath," both aimed at four-to-seven-year-olds. "The best thing about
these books is when children who are just learning to read come to me and tell
me that my books were the first ones they were able to read cover to cover all
by themselves. That's so rewarding," Meister says. In addition to the Tiny books,
Meister has published a series of non-fiction children's books called "Going
Places" and also writes teachers' materials for a textbook publisher. Her most
recent projects include a picture book, "Busy, Busy City Street."
Lacount, Shampnois, Vanderzee and Sand founded Company One, a professional
non-profit theater group, in 1998. The group focuses on the development of young
artists while cultivating an appreciation for the arts in audiences under the
age of 30. Company One has staged three successful productions in Boston so
far and performed Tony Kushner's "The Illusion" from Aug. 3 through Sept. 2.
A special Clark alumni night for this production was held on Aug. 4. Company One also recently launched an educational program, Stage One: Teen
Theater, aimed at developing basic theatrical skills and encouraging individual
expression. Stage One: Teen Theater currently serves greater Boston and the
Main South area of Worcester. Shampnois, Company One's executive producer, says
the group takes special pride in helping fellow Clarkies pursue their interest
in theater. "We all have strong connections to Clark, and it"s great to be able
to work with these people in school and then offer them opportunities in theater
after they graduate," Shampnois says.
Recipients of the Distinguished Young Alumnus/a Award are selected from nominations
submitted by Clark alumni. Eligible candidates must: be a Clark alumnus/a and
35 years of age or younger at the time of nomination; have demonstrated exceptional
service to the University through volunteer effort; and/or have distinguished
themselves in their profession; and/or be active in their community. Nominations
for the 2001 award are now being accepted. Call the Alumni Affairs Office at
(800) 793-6246, or e-mail clarkalum@clarku.edu,
to receive a nomination form. Forms are also available on the Clark website
.
The Alumni Association's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, was
presented to Dr. Dorothy Johnson Beavers '49 for her outstanding commitment
and service to Clark. A member of one of the first classes of undergraduate women to be admitted
to Clark, Beavers went on to a remarkable career as a chemist at the Eastman
Kodak Company. She served as a Clark Trustee from 1985 to 1993, has hosted several
alumni events in her Rochester, N.Y. home and has established scholarships at
Clark that support women studying science. Beavers is a longtime member of the
Jonas Clark Fellows, Clark's leading group of annual donors, and a charter member
of the Legacy Society, which recognizes those who have provided for Clark in
their estate plans.
In a rare occurrence, the Alumni Association confers Honorary Alumnus status
on individuals who have served the University and the Alumni Association with
extraordinary dedication. This year, the Alumni Association bestowed this honor
on Dick and Polly Traina for their 16 years of unyielding dedication to Clark
University. During Dick TrainaÕs tenure as president of the University, ClarkÕs endowment
has grown from $20 million to approximately $170 million, more than three-quarters
of the campus has been built, renovated or acquired, many new academic programs
have been created and the University Park Partnership was established. Together,
Dick and Polly Traina have worked to create a strong Clark community among faculty,
staff and students, and among alumni living throughout the world.
Sarwar Sadat Raza '00 was named the Alumni Rookie of the Year, an annual award
presented to a senior who has given exemplary service to Alumni Affairs programming.
Karla Troesser '00 received the Rose M. Sachs Award, given annually to a senior
woman who best exemplifies "the spirit of Clark University" through her accomplishments
and activities. This award was established by Jacob "Yank" Sachs in memory of
his wife, Rose.
Jennifer McGowan '01 and Sean Dunbar '01 received this year's Thomas M. Dolan
'62 awards. These awards are given annually to a male and female student entering
their senior year who have demonstrated exemplary levels of service and commitment
to Clark and who have outstanding potential to become future leaders of the
Alumni Association and the University.
|
