2010-2011 Academic Year Begins

September 01, 2010

Stonehill celebrated the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year at its annual Academic Convocation in the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex on Tuesday, August 31.

Members of the Class of 2014 as well as transfer students were formally welcomed to the College. Associate Professor of Religious Studies Mary Joan Winn Leith delivered the keynote address and Assistant Professor of Mathematics Norah Esty was honored with this year's Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching. Also speaking at the ceremony was Sarah Bolasevich '11, Senior Class President Matthew Gorman '11 and President Mark Cregan, C.S.C. '78.

The Hegarty Award is given annually to the faculty member whose teaching has had a marked influence on the lives of Stonehill students. The Committee on Excellence in Teaching, representing students, faculty, and the Alumni Council, selects the outstanding teacher from those nominated by students and faculty members.

Professor Esty has taught at the College since 2007 and is the youngest recipient of the Hegarty Award.

In presenting the award to Professor Esty, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Katie Conboy read excerpts from faculty and student nominations.

"Professor Esty woke the class up each morning with a bright smile, a can of diet coke, and an enthusiasm and love for math...There is no denying that she is a hard teacher, but she is also one of the best. She took topics I had struggled with and never learned and re-taught them in class in a matter of five minutes, breaking down the material into pieces we could understand," said one student nomination.

"Professor Norah Esty is the most fantastic professor I have had in my time at Stonehill College. Her vast knowledge is displayed daily in her effortless ability to replicate difficult mathematics in mere seconds. It is not just her brilliance, though, that makes her such an excellent teacher. She also works hard to make sure her students understand what she is teaching. She holds her students to high standards, but does everything to help students exceed them. As students, we are inspired to do better by her diligence and care," noted another student.

To read Esty's citation in its entirety, visit here.

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