SD
Inaugural 5 Quarter—USC Alumni th
Upper St. Clair School District hosted its first-ever 5th Quarter event for
all USC alumni at the conclusion of the varsity football game against Moon on Friday, October 12. An opportunity for alumni from all classes to come together, catch up, and enjoy food catered by Atria’s, this begins a new tradition in Upper St. Clair. As the weather turned colder, more than 70 alumni and their guests attended the event at Gilfillan Farm. “It was a great experience for our alumni to see the historic Gilfillan Farm, some for the first time,” said Gordon Mathews, high school counselor and connect2USCSD coordinator. “We are grateful to the Upper St. Clair Historical Society and Atria’s for their generous contributions that made this event possible.” The event was intended to engage USC alumni and raise awareness of the District’s alumni initiative and online community, connect2USCSD. To date, more than 1700 USC alumni have joined. The District will continue its efforts to engage with its graduates, with the ultimate goal of bringing more alumni into the District’s classrooms to collectively share their expertise with students. This past summer and fall, the classes of 1967, 1968, 1978, and 1988 celebrated their reunions. Some classes have begun partnering with SHOP@USC to assist them in creating name tags, decorations, and signs for their reunion events. In addition, the class of 1967, 1968, and 1988 toured the high school during their reunion weekends. n If your graduating class is interested in these events or opportunities, contact Gordon Mathews at gmathews@uscsd.k12.pa.us. In addition, contact Gordon if you are interested in becoming involved in the alumni initiative. Connect with us at connect2USCSD.com.
Outstanding Educator
Upper St. Clair High School teacher Ben Edwards was selected for the Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Chicago. The Office of College Admissions grants the Outstanding Educator Award to teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the education and personal development of their students. Ben Edwards “ E a c h y e a r, w e i n v i t e entering first-year students to nominate an educator who has influenced them, challenged them, or helped them along the path toward intellectual growth,” said James Nondorf, dean of admissions and financial aid at the
University of Chicago. “We receive letters back from hundreds of students, inspired by teachers who have changed the course of their lives, who taught them to re-imagine texts, to delve deeper into problem-solving, and to think beyond the borders of the classroom in the pursuit of their own education.” Ben was nominated for the Outstanding Educator Award by Spencer Miller, USCHS Class of 2018. This marks the second time that Ben has received this honor. “The reality of teaching is that we do the best we can and then let life take over,” said Ben. “For someone to remember us after that transition is humbling.” Ben Edwards has been a member of the high school’s social studies faculty since 2011 and has coached its forensics team since 2001. He teaches International Baccalaureate History of the Americas and Advanced Placement/IB Economics. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Ben holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in social studies education. He resides in Bethel Park with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Lily. n Winter 2018
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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