Influential Biology Teacher Edwin Gosnell to Be Honored at UC's Commencement

The University of Cincinnati and President Santa J. Ono, a respected scientist, plan to honor retired high school teacher Edwin Gosnell, an accomplished scientist in his own right.

Gosnell, a major influence on his former student Ono, will be given the President's Award for Excellence by UC at Spring Commencement on May 2.

The President's Award for Excellence is one of UC's highest honors. The special recognition, given by UC President Santa J. Ono, will be bestowed upon Gosnell during Commencement events held from May 1-2 in Fifth Third Arena. The tradition-rich celebration will be held from May 1-2 in Fifth Third Arena, and it includes multiple ceremonies: the Doctoral Hooding and Master’s Recognition Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 1, and Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies (bachelor and associate degrees) will be presented at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 2.

Gosnell is a retired biology teacher from Towson High School in Baltimore whose service has been recognized by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT).

Throughout his 30-year teaching career at Towson High School (1966-96), Gosnell taught all levels of biology. In the '80s he also taught anatomy and physiology for nursing students and general biology as a core science in their program at Essex Community College. Gosnell received his bachelor's ('95) and master's ('04) degrees from Towson University in Baltimore.

For three summers in the '70s, Gosnell invited some of his recently graduated students on a camping field trip across the U.S. and Canada to observe various ecosystems. He also was sponsor of Towson High's Environmental Club, which started one of the first recycling programs in the State of Maryland. Gosnell received a commendation from the governor of Maryland his efforts in helping establish successful recycling programs throughout the state.

Gosnell was awarded the Maryland Outstanding Biology Teacher 1992-93 by the NABT for his excellent teaching and service to the profession.

After retiring from full time teaching in 1996, Gosnell worked at the Applications and Research Lab in the Secondary Division of the Howard County Schools in Maryland. He helped develop the curriculum for the two-year advanced program which enables students to learn about biotechnology and have opportunities for apprenticeships and internships in the biotechnology community.

Gosnell also served on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Ornithological Society in the 1980s, participated in numerous National Science Teachers Association and NABT conventions and was among 40 teachers that were chosen to travel to Moscow as part of a program to exchange ideas with teaching counterparts in Russia.

CEREMONY DETAILS

Information about the ceremony

– including when to arrive, where to park, how to take part via social media and more – is available online.

MORE TO LEARN

Further information is available

on the Commencement website.