Grinnell Inaugurates New Commencement Tradition: Will Present Honorary Degree to K-12 Teacher at Graduation
News Releases 2013-05-10
Summary:
At this year's Commencement exercises, Grinnell College will award degrees to some 334 graduating seniors—and to an elementary school teacher who made a difference in the life of at least one graduate.
For many years, Grinnell celebrated teachers by presenting an award at graduation—but this is the first year of a new tradition, in which Grinnell will present a teacher with an honorary degree. "Grinnell, as a premier liberal arts college, places a high value on the work that K-12 teachers have invested in our students, preparing them for the academic rigors of college," said Kathy Kamp, professor of anthropology and chair of the honorary degree committee. "By granting an honorary degree to an outstanding teacher, the college acknowledges simultaneously the importance of teaching as a profession and the superior record of achievement of the individual teacher being honored."
David Abarr '83, a fourth-grade science, math and social studies teacher from Davis Elementary School in Grinnell, is the inaugural recipient of Grinnell's honorary degree for educators.
About David Abarr A teacher for nearly three decades (and a member of the faculty at Davis Elementary since 1998), Abarr was selected for Grinnell's honorary degree because he "pushes his students hard to learn science, and he goes beyond the normal expectations," a selection committee member said. Each year, Abarr arranges to bring a portable planetarium to his school so that he can teach astronomy not only to the students in his class, but to all Davis students. He also has worked with the school system's Curriculum Advisory Committee to improve course materials for science and math teachers, as well as teachers from other disciplines.
Abarr has played an important role in the community beyond Davis Elementary. He has served, among other things, on the Grinnell Community Day Care Board, on the mayor's Art Gallery Committee, and as a member of the board of the Grinnell Area Arts Council. He also has served as director of the Arts Council's summer program. In 2011, Abarr received WHO TV's Golden Apple Award, which recognizes outstanding educators in Iowa, and in 2010 he was honored through the Belin-Blank Teacher Recognition Program at the University of Iowa. He also was honored in 2005 at the Governor's Scholars Recognition Ceremony.
About Grinnell's Honorary Degree Recipients Also receiving honorary degrees at Grinnell's commencement this year are poet Sarah Kay (who will deliver the Commencement address; pioneering computer scientist Nathaniel Borenstein '80; and the late Bonnie Tinker, a longtime peace and civil rights activist who, among other things, co-founded Love Makes a Family.
About Grinnell's Honorary Degree for Educators Grinnell's new honorary degree for educators builds on an earlier, longstanding teaching award presented by the college. From 1976 to 2002, Grinnell recognized Iowa secondary-school teachers for their work by presenting two Outstanding Iowa Teachers Awards each year during Grinnell's commencement. The winners were selected from a pool of nominations made by Grinnell students who had the nominees as teachers.
In 2012 the college's Honorary Degree Committee proposed that Grinnell create a special honorary degree category for a K-12 educator nominated by Grinnell College students. The nominations are reviewed by the honorary degree committee. The recipient will receive an honorary degree at Grinnell's commencement ceremony, where she or he will make brief remarks.
"Grinnell College has a proud history of preparing excellent teachers for more than 100 years," said Jean Ketter, professor of education, chair of the Education Department, and a member of the Honorary Degree Committee. "In the past the Committee selected a teacher for recognition at Commencement from among students' nominations. We're glad to be able to reinstate the tradition of recognizing an outstanding teacher at Grinnell's Commencement exercises, and we're particularly pleased to be able to award an honorary degree to the teacher."
About Education at Grinnell The new honorary degree for educators is just one indication of Grinnell's commitment to preparing excellent teachers with a liberal arts education. Few liberal arts colleges offer the option of obtaining licensure, but Grinnell students can complete a major and earn a 5-12 teaching license that qualifies them to teach in Iowa and many other states. Thanks to a generous gift from Penny Bender Sebring '64 and her husband, Charles Ashby Lewis, Grinnell recently