IMSA Math Teacher is Sixth to Receive Prestigious Award
For Immediate Release, December 2004
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Aurora—Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) mathematics teacher and Batavia resident Dr. Donald Porzio recently received the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished High School Mathematics Teaching, sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). He is one of only 27 high school teachers in the U.S. and Canada to receive the award.
The Edyth May Sliffe Award is designed to recognize and reward outstanding teachers for their efforts in the development of mathematical talents of high school students. Nominations for the award were made by students from the 60 highest scoring American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12) teams in the U.S., Canada and U.S. schools abroad.
Dr. Porzio is the sixth IMSA mathematics teacher to receive the honor in the 17-year history of the award. Past IMSA recipients were Titu Andreescu (1994), Ronald Vavrinek (1995), Dr. Micah Fogel (2001), Dr. Steven Condie (2002) and Dr. Michael Keyton (2003).
"This award came as a complete surprise to me,” Dr. Porzio said. “What truly makes this award special to me is the fact that students nominate me for it. Somehow, an award is more meaningful and takes on greater value when you know it is your students who feel you are deserving of it."
Dr. Porzio began teaching at IMSA in 1998. In addition to coaching students in state and national competitions, he teaches a variety of mathematics courses at IMSA including Geometry, BC and AB Calculus, Discrete Mathematics, Mathematical Investigations and Advanced Topics in Mathematics. Dr. Porzio is active in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Mathematical Association of America, the Metropolitan Mathematics Club of Chicago and other state and local professional organizations.
The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® is an internationally-recognized pioneering educational institution created by the State of Illinois to develop talent and leadership in mathematics, science and technology. IMSA's advanced residential college preparatory program enrolls 650 academically talented Illinois students in grades 10-12. Nearly 18,000 teachers and 34,000 students in Illinois and beyond have benefited from The Center@IMSA program of professional development and student enrichment. Located in Aurora in the high-tech corridor west of Chicago, IMSA® serves the people of Illinois through innovative instructional programs, public and private partnerships, policy counsel, action research, and the leadership and achievements of its graduates.