Class of 2022
Singer Family Prize for Excellence
Singer Awards recognize high school teachers’ impact on graduating seniors
Four high school teachers who had a lasting influence on members of the University of Rochester’s Class of 2022 will receive the Singer Family Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching, presented by the College in Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
The award, created in 2006, is a Rochester commencement week tradition. Graduating seniors in the College nominate teachers who made a difference in their lives. The honorees are then chosen by a committee chaired by the dean of the College, and receive $4,000 and two plaques (one for their office and one for their school), plus $3,500 for their school.
Paul Singer ’66, ’17 (Honorary) and his son, Gordon Singer, established and support the prize through the Paul Singer Family Foundation. This year’s winners will be honored at a ceremony in Strong Auditorium on May 13.
Here are this year’s recipients, in the words of the students who nominated them.
Lina Chiru
Chemistry teacher at International Computer High School of Bucharest
Nominated by Anca Frasineanu ’22 (molecular genetics and chemistry double major)
“I had Ms. Chiru as a teacher for six years. She was so engaging, always describing where we might see certain reactions in nature or why when scientists first discovered them they were surprising. She always emphasized the importance of supporting our peers and thinking of each other as a team rather than competitors. I learned lots of life lessons from her. The most important one was how to teach myself and be an independent learner. She’s the type of person who truly cares about you.”
Judith Harper
English teacher at Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona
Nominated by Dulce Martinez Alarcon ’22 (English major)
“Judith Harper was always very engaged and transformed the classroom experience for everyone. She helped with college essays and applications and provided mock interviews for scholarship applications. She is a genuine kind soul to every student she meets and was a huge support system for my brother Diego Martinez Alarcon ’18, who graduated from Rochester with a degree in optics. She was able to profoundly teach English and instill in me a love for the subject. I’m an English major, and I believe she had the biggest influence on that decision.”
Dan Mainville
Biology teacher at G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, New York
Nominated by Madison Lang ’22 (biomedical engineering major)
“Mr. Mainville’s classroom was the epitome of everything biology and nature, from the chairs made of tree logs to the photos of hundreds of different species on the wall and the pet bearded dragon. You walked into his room and knew you were going to learn a lot—and have an awesome time. He made learning an adventure and challenged us to think outside the box. And he encouraged us to appreciate how awe-inspiring biology is, from the natural environment to the tiniest cells in the body. There was always something to look forward to.”
Joseph Priddy
Physics teacher at Tarpon Springs High School in Tarpon Springs, Florida
Nominated by Cierra Tinson ’22 (physics major)
“I never thought about physics until I took two classes with Mr. Priddy. He opened a new, beautifully chaotic world and taught me how physics acts as an extension and application of math. He showed me how the world can be broken down into both simple and complex—but beautiful—equations. I’ve experienced a lot of physical and mental challenges in my life, and there were many times when I could barely see myself getting out of bed. Mr. Priddy never let me forget that somebody saw the pain I was going through. He always let me know that I was not alone.”