Chittenango High Teacher John Clancy of Cazenovia to Receive Clarkson University Award

POTSDAM, NY (05/02/2013)(readMedia)-- John Clancy of Cazenovia, N.Y., motivates his students to achieve great success. Clancy is one of two recipients of this year's Clarkson University Inspirational High School Educator Award.

The mathematics teacher at Chittenango High School in Chittenango, N.Y., was nominated by former student Ellen M. Heenan of Bridgeport, N.Y., a senior engineering and management major at Clarkson. The award will be presented on May 10 during Clarkson's commencement weekend activities.

Each year, Clarkson asks its seniors to nominate the secondary school educators who have significantly affected their lives and helped guide their higher education and career decisions. The award recognizes these educators for their lasting impact on their students and in their fields of education.

Early in the spring term, graduating seniors submit their reasons for choosing their nominees, how they influenced them and actual situations in which they showed themselves to be outstanding educators.

Heenan said Mr. Clancy's passion for teaching made math courses at Clarkson easier for her. She had friends who had no interest in science or mathematics until they took a class of his.

"If you ask any student who took AP courses at Chittenango who the best teachers were, Mr. Clancy would undoubtedly come up. Other teachers recognize him as such, as well. He is an excellent educator, caring person, enthusiastic at his job and an all-around good person," says Heenan. "Mr. Clancy gives without the desire or expectation to get anything back. All he wants is to see his students, and all students at Chittenango, excel in school and in life."

"We all can think back to a teacher we had growing up whose lessons still resonate with us," says Clarkson Vice President for University Outreach and Student Affairs Kathryn B. Johnson. "These educators challenged and encouraged their students in such a way that prepared them to thrive at Clarkson."

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.