Sibani Sengupta, Ph.D., a 2009 recipient of an Alma Exley Memorial Scholarship, has been chosen to receive the 2010 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA) for Connecticut.
This prestigious award is presented to only one person in Connecticut each year by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT).
Dr. Sengupta received her Connecticut teaching certificate through the Alternate Route to Certification, a state program that enables professionals from other fields to teach in public schools.
She holds degrees from the University of Calcutta and a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, and she did research as a post-doctorate fellow at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Dr. Sengupta is chair of the science department at Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden, Conn., where she has taught advanced-placement biology, genetics, and honors and college-prep biology and microbiology. She also runs the Human Gene Discovery Laboratory at the school.
Recipients of the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award will be honored at the NABT National Professional Development Conference in Minneapolis, Minn., on November 5.
Each OBTA recipient will receive science equipment donated by Pearson Prentice Hall Publishing Company, the sponsor of the OBTA program, and a microscope donated by Leica Microsystems, Inc.
The Connecticut Association of Biology Teachers (CTABT) will honor Dr. Sengupta at its Annual OBTA Lecture/Reception in October.
Khalil Graham, center, is congratulated by previous recipients of Alma Exley memorial scholarships, from left, Chi-Ann Lin, Desi Nesmith, Ollie-Rubiah Williams and Sacha Kelly.
Khalil Graham, a student at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., has been honored as the 2010 recipient of the Alma Exley Memorial Scholarship.
Fifty people attended a reception in his honor at the Noah Webster Library in West Hartford, Conn., on May 12.
Mr. Graham, who grew up in New York City, is a graduate of the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn., where he was a founder of Minority Males Inspired Toward Achievement (M.M.I.T.A.), a group designated to help residents of Windsor and surrounding communities.
He earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Richmond with concentrations in African American Studies, Urban Policy and Practice, and Social Science. He was also elected the graduation speaker for the Class of 2008.
He received a master’s degree in education from Sacred Heart on May 15, 2010 and has been accepted into the doctoral program in educational leadership at the University of Kentucky.
Among the attendees were four previous recipients of Alma Exley memorial scholarships, who congratulated Mr. Graham and welcomed him to the scholarship family.
They are Chi-Ann Lin, a teacher at Staples High School, Westport; Desi Nesmith, principal of America’s Choice School at SAND, Hartford; Ollie-Rubiah Williams, a teacher at Farmington Valley Diagnostic Center, Avon; and Sacha Kelly, a teacher at Big Picture High School, a regional magnet school in Bloomfield.
Guest speaker at the reception was Maureen Price-Boreland, executive director of Community Partners in Action (CPA), a Hartford-based not-for-profit agency that provides a variety of services in the criminal justice field.
Ms. Price-Boreland, who began her career as a public school teacher, earned a law degree while working at CPA and is an adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University. She spoke about the importance of diversity in fields from criminal justice to education, and underlined the need for more persons of color in the teaching profession.
Academic Achievement and Community Service Khalil Graham played on the varsity football team at Richmond and received the Spider Scholar award given to students who excel in both academics and athletics. He was an organizer of Nets for Africa, which secured funding for bed nets for African children. He served as a volunteer for the Richmond Area Boys & Girls Club, hosting children to familiarize them with college life. He also tutored students in science, mathematics and English in the Richmond Public Schools.
Returning to New York City during the summer, he worked in Project Breakthrough, teaching seventh grade biology and advising eighth grade students on their high school options.
While pursuing his master’s degree in education at Sacred Heart, he was employed at Amistad Academy, New Haven, during 2008-2009 and at Jettie S. Tisdale School in Bridgeport during 2009-2010.
In accepting the scholarship, Mr. Graham said, in part:
“I want to take a moment to thank all those who made it possible for me to reach this moment. I was once told that it’s important to acknowledge that all who achieve great things “stand on the shoulders of giants.” I can see many of my personal giants in this room. This includes my family representation and all people who have touched me on my educational and personal journey. It wasn’t always easy (I have myself to blame for most of that.), but much of the reason I believe my path is so bright is because of the love and encouragement you have given along the way.
“In this moment I honor all those who could not be here today, including my grandmother, who raised me, Sandra Joyce Graham, for instilling an unwavering faith in the higher power, and molding me with the work ethic to always want to make a lasting impact in society. While she as well as all of those who could not be in attendance tonight are sorely missed, I do plan to let their dreams shine through in all the achievements I strive for.
“I hope to use this platform as a springboard to develop new leadership tactics in classrooms to ensure student growth. Many have asked me why I have decided to pursue this field and embark on this journey. I am reminded of writer James Baldwin, who once said, “For these are all our children. We will either pay for, or profit from, whatever they become…”
“I have been bestowed with the gift of love; love for children, love for education, and love for change. I look forward to uncloaking the unknown potential of America’s youth, one child at a time.
“By standing for diversity and excellence in the field of education, the Alma Exley Scholarship Program has shown itself to be unafraid of failure by stepping outside the box in their search for the best talent in the field of education. The commitment began when Alma Exley decided to make a difference in the lives of all children. As I create my own legacy in the field of education, I will continue to shine a glowing light on her legacy and the legacy of the program.
“The greatest pain in life is to be invisible. What I’ve learned is that if you listen carefully enough, all students just want to be heard. And I thank all the people who give me strength to stand as a voice for America youth. I will continue to let students see themselves and for a moment, glimpse the power to change and the power to triumph.”
Also speaking was Jim Williamson, executive director of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, which administers the scholarship program. Mr. Williamson reported that nearly 1,000 individual contributions have been made to the program since its inception in 1995, and that the endowment has surpassed $100,000. In all, nearly $46,000 in scholarships have been awarded since the first recipient was named in 1996.
I’ve sent thanks to everyone who contributed to the endowment in 2009, but I also want to thank everyone publicly in this forum.
Alex and Zack, my children, join me and Alma’s extended family in expressing our deep gratitude for the outpouring of support for the scholarship program since 1995. We’re touched by the continuing generosity of so many of Alma’s friends, colleagues and others who have helped to carry on her legacy in education.
Several hundred different individuals and a number of organizations have contributed since 1995. This has enabled us to build a sizable endowment for scholarships.
Through the 2009-2010 academic year, we will have awarded more than $46,000 in scholarship aid. Meanwhile, thanks to continuing donations and investment gains, the endowment has surpassed $100,000 – laying a solid foundation for the future.
My appreciation also goes out to many who have contributed in a variety of ways to enable the program to grow and flourish.
A number of Alma’s friends and colleagues provided invaluable insights and expertise in establishing the program. And the staff of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain has provided invaluable support and guidance since the beginning.
A dedicated cadre of educators – many of them former colleagues of Alma’s – have served on the selection committee over the years. The committee faces a daunting task each year in deciding among so many deserving applicants. The committee has done a great job of choosing recipients who have done us proud in their careers.
Most gratifying has been the involvement of the Alma Exley Scholars in supporting the program and contributing to the endowment. Many of them have returned to our annual receptions to welcome their new colleagues into our scholarship family. And three of them – Miguel Cardona, Chi-Ann Lin, and Desi Nesmith – have served on the selection committee, bringing their unique insights to the process.
Thanks also go out to three artists, who have volunteered to bring a touch of class to our program: Patrick Lee, who created and maintains the website; Kurt Godiksen, who provides a variety of graphic design services; and John LoPresti, who frames our scholarship certificates.
When Alma suggested setting up a scholarship program to carry on her work in education, I’m not sure she could have envisioned the scope of the program that has emerged. But I am sure she would be delighted with what we have been able to build – thanks to the groundswell of caring by so many people who loved her and shared her values.
It’s painfully ironic that Alma didn’t get to meet the remarkable scholarship recipients who are carrying on her legacy of diversity and excellence in education. She would have admired and loved each and every one them. She would be full of pride and admiration to see them maturing and advancing in their careers.
The other side of this irony is that our young honorees didn’t have the opportunity to know Alma. They were never able to meet the woman who envisioned the program that is giving them recognition and support. I often think about how much they would have enjoyed knowing Alma. And it catches me by surprise when I hear them talking about her as if they knew her.
Everything that we’ve been able to accomplish in this program is a reflection of Alma’s personality and character. Her values have inspired us. Her spirit of caring and concern has guided us.
As an English teacher, Alma was devoted to making a difference in the lives of her students. In her career at the Connecticut State Department of Education, she was dedicated to strengthening the teaching profession in a variety of ways.
She was involved in efforts to raise the standards of the teaching profession in Connecticut. She worked with school districts as well as colleges and universities across the state to strengthen teacher-preparation programs. At the time when cancer took her from us at the age of 52, she had been working to bring more people of color into the teaching profession in Connecticut. She understood that a more diverse corps of teachers was necessary to serve an increasingly diverse student body.
Specifically, she was managing a now-defunct program that enabled paraprofessionals (most of whom were people of color) to complete their education and become teachers. Her relationship with these aspiring educators was something special. It was clear there was a lot of love between Alma and the people whose careers she was helping to launch.
That love was the reason why Alma asked me to carry on her unfinished work through a scholarship program. Thanks to so many caring donors, the program has been fulfilling her vision. It has become a wonderful memorial that is having an impact.
Because of this program, Alma is living on through the diverse, talented young educators who are making a difference in classrooms across Connecticut and from Boston to Los Angeles.
Thanks again to everyone who has made this possible. – Woody Exley
