Blair teachers named UMD "Merrill Master Teachers"

Blair teachers Robert Donaldson and John Goldman were recognized for their impact on teaching as part of the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Program at the University of Maryland.

Each year, the program selects 25 outstanding seniors at the University of Maryland to honor as Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars. As part of this award, the students are asked to select the two teachers, one at the K-12 level and one at the college level, who have had the greatest impact on their academic success.

Kristina Cammen, a senior in the College of Chemical and Life Sciences, chose Donaldson, and Tatyana Estybaliz Delgado selected Goldman as the most influential instructors of their early academic career.

On Nov. 4, the designated teachers gathered at the University of Maryland for a special recognition ceremony and a workshop centered around the benefits of successful mentoring. Each teacher selected was named a "Merrill Master Teacher" and will have a scholarship awarded in their name to a student from their school district enrolling at the University of Maryland.

Both Donaldson and Goldman are pleased to be recognized and remembered by their former students. "It was such an honor to be remembered by a student in such terms," said Goldman. "Rarely does a teacher hear from a student after they left – I'm quite lucky to be one of those teachers who have heard back."

Both teachers feel that it was the qualities of their students more than any extraordinary skills on their part that brought the students this honor. "I did what I do with everyone. I'm not any different from other teachers. I just got recognized," Goldman remarked.

Goldman remembers Delgado as a very motivated student, who produced a Spanish show for BNC. "She did a show called 'La Comunidad.' It's the only show we produced all in Spanish." Cammen was also very enthusiastic and excited about learning. "She's obviously very smart," recounted Donaldson. "But not everyone who is smart is enthusiastic in the way they look at the world [like Cammen is]."

This is not the first time Donaldson and Goldman have been commended for their teaching abilities. Two years ago, Donaldson received a similar award from the University of Maryland and Goldman had also received an honor from the University of Southern California.