The Rotary Club of Utica recently hosted a virtual awards program honoring seven outstanding local high school educators. Other local Rotary Clubs were also involved in the program and had selections of educators from their respective districts. The educators were nominated by local high school students and during the awards program, both the students and teachers were recognized, and the students explained why these educators were chosen. Those honored this year include:
The Rotary Club of Utica recently hosted a virtual awards program honoring seven outstanding local high school educators. Other local Rotary Clubs were also involved in the program and had selections of educators from their respective districts. The educators were nominated by local high school students and during the awards program, both the students and teachers were recognized, and the students explained why these educators were chosen. Those honored this year include:
 
Mark Benson, Principal, New Hartford High School (New Hartford Rotary). His administrative career began in the Rome City School District, as an Assistant Principal at Staley Middle School for two years and was then appointed as Principal of Rome Free Academy where he served for ten years. Mark’s current role as Principal of New Hartford Senior High began in 2015.
 
Meredith Callaghan, Chemistry and Science teacher at Clinton High School. Meredith has been teaching chemistry at Clinton since the fall of 1993. Meredith is an advisor for the Science Olympiad team and the advisor for LEAP, the environmental club.
 
Marisa Cardillo, English Teacher at Sauquoit High School (Sauquoit Rotary). Marisa began her teaching career in Camden where she taught for 5 years before joining the Sauquoit faculty for the last 16 years. She has taught predominantly seniors for the past 8 years and advises the school’s student newspaper.
 
 
Michael Eramo, Physics and Computer Science Teacher at New York Mills High School. Michael is a 9-year teaching veteran at New York Mills High school teaching Physics and Computer Science. He is also the advisor for the National Honor Society and Technology Club at New York Mills.
 
Charles Hamilton, Spanish Teacher at Whitesboro High School (North Utica- Whitestown Rotary) “I know how fortunate I am to teach my students. I hope to show them every day how much I love Spanish and how much I love being able to teach them. Rotary does such a great job of trying to get the people of the world closer, so to be recognized by them is a great honor.”
 
Rick Hensel, English Teacher at Notre Dame High School (Utica).
Rick has been teaching at Notre Dame for 5 years and is also an alumnus (class of 2013). Along with teaching English, he is the yearbook advisor and coaches the boys varsity soccer team. 
Rebecca Nix, English Teacher at Proctor High School. Rebecca is a foster parent and has spent a total of 21 years teaching with 13 years in the Utica City School District. Mrs. Nix also volunteers as a tutor at the Junior Frontiers SAT Prep classes on weekends.
 
Congratulations to all the Outstanding Educator Award winners and the nominating students.