Holy Cross Announces 2009 Distinguished Teaching Award and Swords Medalists

WORCESTER, Mass. – Blaise Nagy, professor of classics, and a member of the College of the Holy Cross faculty since 1976 received the 2009 Distinguished Teaching Award at the College’s annual Fall Faculty Convocation and Awards Ceremony.

The Holy Cross Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes and honors the teaching excellence of the College’s faculty. A committee of students, faculty, alumni and administrators selects the honoree after careful review of nominations from individuals and groups on campus. Recipients demonstrate the College’s commitment to teaching and personalized instruction by making ideas come alive for students both in and out of the classroom. The Distinguished Teacher is invited to give the principal address during the Faculty Convocation and is awarded a $1,000 honorarium.

Nagy received his B.A. from Boston College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in ancient history from Harvard University.  He chaired the classics department at Holy Cross from 1990 to 2003.  A nationally recognized expert in Greek religion and Greek history, he has given numerous talks across the U.S. and Canada.  In addition, Nagy is the author of A Thucydides Reader (Focus Press 2005), A Herodotus Reader (forthcoming), and dozens of scholarly articles, reviews, and translations. He resides in Sutton, Mass.

Also awarded at Fall Convocation was the Rev. Raymond J. Swords, S.J., Faculty Medal, which honors those members of the faculty who have served the College for 25 years or more. This year’s recipients were Robert I. Bertin, professor of biology; David B. Damiano, professor of mathematics and computer science; Richard S. Herrick, professor of chemistry; William R. Morse, professor of English; Kenneth N. Prestwich, professor of biology; Scott Sandstom, professor of economics; and Janine Shertzer, professor of physics.