October 28, 2011

Dear Seniors,

I imagine that every one of you remembers a high school teacher who made an enormous difference in who you have become today — someone who probably doesn’t know how important they were to you. Now you have the chance to say thank you, in a big way! Each year seniors have an opportunity to nominate teachers for an Olmsted Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching, awarded on Class Day during Commencement Weekend.

 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…….”

The recipients, usually four, are brought to Williamstown during Commencement Weekend and presented with a $3,000 prize. An additional $2,500 goes to each teacher’s school. Furthermore, every nominated teacher receives a certificate of recognition.

If you think one of your secondary school teachers deserves recognition, please take this opportunity to submit a nomination by Tuesday, January 3. Keep in mind that your nomination will play a central role in the Committee’s deliberation process. See Nomination Guidelines and Form.

The Olmsted Prize Committee consists of the Katarzyna Pieprzak, Olmsted Committee Chair and Associate Professor of French and Comparative Literature; three other faculty members: Gretchen Long, Associate Professor of History; David Tucker-Smith, Associate Professor of Physics; and Amanda Wilcox, Assistant Professor of Classics; three students from the junior class; and Maggie Driscoll, Assistant to the Vice President for Strategic Planning and Institutional Diversity and Secretary to the Olmsted Committee. Please click here for more information on the program.

Please take this opportunity to participate in this wonderful Williams tradition by honoring a teacher who’s touched your life.

Regards,

Adam Falk
President