Celebrating Teachers Who Change Lives
Four high school educators who left a deep imprint on their students’ lives will be honored with the prestigious Morton Schapiro Distinguished Secondary School Teacher Award during Northwestern’s 2025 Convocation ceremony on Sunday, June 15.
Nominated by graduating seniors, the award recognizes high school teachers who inspired their students both inside and beyond the classroom—teachers who ignited passions, challenged limits, and believed in potential.
Kaylyn Ahn, a senior in the School of Education and Social Policy, nominated Rita Thompson, her now-retired English teacher who dedicated 27 years to Elk Grove High School in Illinois. Adrienne Scheide, also a School of Education and Social Policy senior, selected Julie Stoffel, the dynamic choir director and performing arts teacher at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
Joining Thompson and Stoffel as this year’s honorees are two more standouts:
- Stephanie Hill, a French teacher at Glacier High School in Kalispell, Montana, nominated by Simon Roston from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
- Jennifer Neff, head of the math department at South Anchorage High School in Alaska, nominated by Ava Earl, also a Weinberg senior.
Each winner will receive a $5,000 award, with an additional $5,000 going to their schools, in recognition of the incredible work they do shaping future leaders before college even begins.
Named for Morton Schapiro, Northwestern’s 16th president, the award is sponsored by the Office of the President in partnership with the School of Education and Social Policy and supported by the Associated Student Government. A dedicated committee of faculty, staff, and students reviews nominations and teaching portfolios before selecting finalists for interviews. Final awardees are confirmed by Northwestern President Michael Schill.