Mason High-School Teacher Honored by UC for Sharing Her Passion for Science

Jennifer Schuster first encountered Carol Lehman at Colerain High School. Ms. Lehman was teaching Schuster’s freshman honors biology class. At that time, Schuster says she wasn’t much of a science fan. That is, until Ms. Lehman’s love for the subject turned contagious with her students.

Carol Lehman, a UC graduate of the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, is now a teacher at Mason High School. She’s one of four teachers from around the Tristate who will be honored by the University of Cincinnati when she receives the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award at UC’s December Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony takes place at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center. Lehman will be presented with a $1,000 UC scholarship that she can award to a high-school senior who plans to attend UC in the 2008-2009 academic year.

“The greatest thing about an award like this is that you get to give back to the kids,” says the teacher of 17 years. “I truly feel blessed to have received this honor and to have students like Jennifer. My job is my passion. I love to teach.”

The award winners were nominated by soon-to-graduate UC students who wanted to recognize a K-12 educator who had a lasting impact on their pursuit of a college degree. The recipients were selected from 27 nominations reviewed by a UC committee that included representation from the Office of the President, UC faculty, staff and students.

“When I was entering high school, I was more math oriented, and I viewed science as merely a required course,” says the 22-year-old Schuster, a UC senior in the College of Business, who’s graduating next spring with her bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance. “I didn’t enjoy it at first, but after seeing Ms. Lehman’s excitement and passion for it, I became fascinated with biology,” says Schuster.

“Ms. Lehman made learning fun. She interacted with her students and encouraged participation rather than just reading notes or lecturing to the class for the entire period,” Schuster says, and adds that the UC alum was instrumental in her own decision to enter UC as a Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS Scholar – a College of Business educational experience for students who have demonstrated excellence in academics and leadership.

“I’m really proud of Jennifer and the young lady she has become,” Lehman says. “Her future is going to be filled with success. I’m so happy that I made an impact on her, but I want her to know that she also left an impact on me. She’s a student I will never forget.”

This December marks the third year that UC has presented the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Awards to recognize the lifelong inspiration of K-12 educators. Preceding the ceremony, Lehman and Schuster will celebrate Lehman’s UC honor when they join UC President Nancy L. Zimpher at a special brunch that will take place at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, in the Faculty Club Banquet Room in Room 850 of the Richard E. Lindner Center.

Read More About the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award

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