This post was held up awaiting an answer, and today I received a response to my e-mail that had found its way to Dr. Cathryn Addy, President of Tunxis Community College to the effect that:
"On April 26th, the Community College system in Connecticut had a program at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to celebrate its 40th anniversary. As a part of the celebration, each college was asked to nominate one or two faculty for an Impact Award–i.e. faculty who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom and who have contributed to the quality of classroom learning at our college. The Academic Dean and I nominated Dr. Fran O’Neil and Steve Ersinghaus for the award from Tunxis, and I got to provide a brief statement on each of them at the ceremony. There were several hundred people there, including many legislators, and it really was a very nice event."
Dr. Addy offered to as well send along what she had said of Professor Ersinghaus at the ceremony, but I’m going to wing it here and give you a student’s point of view.
There are some teachers who just seem to fit that Sidney Poitier "To Sir With Love" image. They go beyond teaching in so many ways; up on the latest methods, constantly supplementing their own knowledge of topic, reaching out into new fields, and, caring so much about what they do that they are dedicated to imparting and sharing what they’ve learned to those they instruct. Professor Ersinghaus is one of those teachers.
Oddly enough, back in high school, it was my senior English teacher, Mr. Raymond Nalewajk, who tried to push me into college as well as offered me a chance to follow my desires to be a writer. In my second semester at Tunxis, I had Professor Ersinghaus for Introduction to Literature, and at the end of the final class, all he said to me was,"Are you going to take the Creative Writing Course next semester?" To me, that meant he felt it was worth taking the next step.
I’ve had many classes with the professor, and it took me many years before I could call him "Steve" without stumbling over the lack of title. He is much younger, but there’s a respect that he has earned, and perhaps one I’m simply used to giving authority. I have learned so much about literature and writing in his classes over my time at Tunxis. He is willing to back you–without his enthusiasm and assistance there would be no Spinning, nor the Narratives Writers Group, nor the new otto. Learning to Spin is in response to his implementation of weblogs as class portfolios. Professor Ersinghaus’ own weblog, The Great Lettuce Head, I have referred to many times. I’m eagerly awaiting enough students having passed through the New Media Course he instituted with Prof. John Timmons and Prof. Bill Kluba that you all had to hear about constantly last year, so that the second level can begin. If I didn’t have to take the Nutrition course this summer to fulfill the final science requirement for graduation I would instead be taking the Interactive Fiction course he will be teaching together with Prof. Timmons. The fire’s been lit by their willingness to explore new territories for Tunxis.
Impact? Oh yes. Professor Ersinghaus has had at the very least, an effect, and on the majority of those lucky enough to participate in his classes a huge impact on many lives. We all move onward and away, but he has spread some crumbs of inspiration on the paths. The Wesleyan Writers Conference is just another step for me. For a few others, they have gone on to seek degrees in Creative Writing, Literature, and the exciting field of New Media.
The professor has a very understanding and supportive wife, and he’s a great daddy to his children, teaching as well as learning from them. When I sent Steve an e-mail in congratulations last week, his response was, "Thanks. Just doing the work. I love this job."
We can tell.
My congratulations to both Professor Steve Ersinghaus and Dr. Fran O’Neil for their well deserved awards.
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