Audubon Resident Melissa Parr Honored at Drexel Commencement with 2011 Behind Every Graduate Award

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(Left to Right) Drexel President John Fry, Drexel Student Danielle Castley, Award Recipient Melissa Parr, and Dean of Drexel’s College of Engineering Dr. Bruce Eisenstein.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (07/08/2011)(readMedia)-- Architectural and engineering design teacher at Clearview Regional High School in Mullica Hill Melissa Parr received one of five 2011 Harold W. Pote Behind Every Graduate Awards at Drexel University's 124th commencement. The initiative calls for graduating seniors to nominate teachers that inspired them to pursue their college studies. More than 5,000 students received degrees from Drexel this year.

Students were asked to submit an essay describing how their teacher encouraged them to pursue a college education, and how the teacher served as a role model. Parr was nominated by Danielle Castley, a mechanical engineering major in Drexel's College of Engineering, for teaching the importance of engineering student organizations, experiential education and mentoring. Parr was honored during Drexel's College of Engineering ceremony.

In here nominating letter Castley said, "Her passion for education was apparent every day when she brought enthusiasm and practical knowledge into the classroom. My diverse career and extracurricular experiences would not have been possible without Ms. Parr's preparation."

Behind Every Graduate honorees received a $2,000 prize and a $2,000 donation made to the winning teachers' schools. In 2006, Drexel University initiated the "Behind Every Graduate" Award for excellence in secondary teaching. Since then, Drexel has honored 21 of these teachers and the students who nominated them.