Four Local Educators to Be Honored at UC s December Commencement Ceremony

• A high school English teacher who helped a freshman learn English as his third language
• A high school science teacher who turned physics into a delightful show of learning and entertainment
• A high school English teacher whose love of literature was contagious
• An elementary school principal who truly became a pal and guided a rambunctious youngster on the right path

All will be honored with UC’s fourth-annual Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award as the University of Cincinnati celebrates all-university Commencement at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.

Each of the honorees will be presented with a $1,000 UC scholarship to be awarded to a high school senior of his choosing who plans to attend UC in the 2009-2010 academic year. They’ll also join UC President Nancy L. Zimpher at a special luncheon that will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec, 13, in Room 850 of the Richard E. Lindner Center.

Earlier in the fall, future graduates from the Cincinnati USA region were invited by President Zimpher to honor the educator who fueled their passion and pursuit of a higher education. The recipients were selected from nominations reviewed by a UC committee that included representation from the Office of the President, UC faculty, staff and students.

The recipients of the 2008 Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award are

Larry Abbott

– Fairfield Freshman High School teacher Larry Abbott, a 20-year-veteran of teaching, will be honored by UC student Mehrtash Mostofi, who remembers the teacher who gave him a warm welcome to a new city and a new language, and assured him that everything would be okay. “Mr. Abbott helped me get ready for high school and for all of my education thereafter,” says Mostofi. “My freshman year was the hardest year in school for me, but with the help of Mr. Abbott, I got through it. I cannot thank him enough for that.”

Steve Brickner

– The Harrison High School science teacher and UC alumnus, an 18-year veteran of teaching, is being recognized by 22-year-old graphic design student Beau Broering for making science fun. “He didn’t come to work every day to collect a paycheck. He came because he loved helping people,” Broering says. “I hope someday my children will have a teacher like Mr. Brickner.”

Mike Marchal

– St. Xavier High School English teacher Mike Marchal has taught for 39 years. “Had I not been lucky enough to fall into Mr. Marchal’s classroom, I might be a business school dropout by now,” says 22-year-old English major Matt Weber. “When someone would ask a question, or when he saw a student really stretching, he would say, ‘It’s nice to have intelligent students in the classroom.’ Hearing that you’re smart from someone you truly respect, it means so much,” says Weber.

Robert Winterberger

– Union Elementary School Principal Robert Winterberger is a 28-year veteran of K-12 education. His example truly had an impact on 25-year-old Jordan Carrier, a UC business student who was a frequent visitor to the principal’s office back when he was in sixth grade. “The admiration didn’t happen while I was there,” Carrier says. “I recognized it later. Instead of giving up and letting me go and getting me out of his hair, he started setting me down the right path.”

UC’s December Commencement ceremony, marking its fourth year, recognizes graduates who finished their degrees last summer or this fall.

UC Commencement Web Site