The Harker Cum Laude Society’s final speaker of the 2009-10 year was none other than upper school history teacher Ruth Meyer, who shared the story of her journey from Coventry, England, to California to attend Pacifica Graduate Institute to earn her Ph.D. in depth psychology. She said her love of history came as a result of living in an area of historical significance; her birthplace of Coventry contains a cathedral that was ruined during Hitler’s Blitzkrieg of World War II.
Meyer was later admitted to Oxford, where she studied history at Corpus Christi College. She was one of 17 female undergraduates who were the first of their gender to attend the college. Her application to pursue a Ph.D. there was turned down, which led to her fulfilling that goal in the United States. Meyer concluded by discussing the research process for completing her Ph.D. and writing her book “Clio’s Circle: Entering the Imaginal World of Historians,” which examines how dreams can affect the creative process, with a focus on historians’ dreams.
Eric Nelson, computer science teacher at the upper school and advisor to the robotics club and competitive program, has been named a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by the National Society of High School Scholars. Nelson was nominated by one of his students “for being a great role model, a positive influence and someone who has made a difference — in short, a great teacher,” according to the accompanying letter.
Nobel is a senior member of the famous Nobel family and his award recognizes teachers who have made a lasting difference in classrooms by encouraging students to strive for excellence.
Upper school English teacher Alexandra Mattraw was named one of eight finalists in the 2009 Nightboat Books Poetry Prize competition for her book of poetry, “honest as any treeless place.” Nightboat will be posting her biography, photo and one of her poems on their website soon. “Being a finalist is kind of a big deal for me because I’ve been working on this book for six years and this is another step towards publishing,” Mattraw said. Her chapbook, “Projection,” essentially a chapter of her book, was published by Achiote Press, Berkeley, in April. Mattraw also did poetry readings in San Francisco at Dog Eared Books and Wild West Side in May and is writing a poetry review to be published in Word for/Word, an online journal which has published several of her poems.
Upper school English teacher Alexandra Mattraw was recently notified she was one of eight finalists in the 2009 Nightboat Books Poetry Prize competition for her book of poetry, “honest as any treeless place.” Nightboat will be posting her biography, photo and one of her poems on their Web site this spring. “Being a finalist is kind of a big deal for me because I’ve been working on this book for six years and this is another step towards publishing,” Mattraw said. She has a small volume, called a chapbook, “Projection,” coming out soon from Achiote Press, Berkeley.
Upper school debate teacher and communication studies chair Adam Nelson recently received a first diamond degree of membership from the National Forensic League (NFL). Nelson earned this recognition by acquiring a total of 1,513 points on Feb. 28. Students coached by Nelson have earned more than 15,130 points to date. With this milestone, Nelson has earned the privilege of wearing a diamond-set NFL key or pin. He will be recognized in June at the Lincoln Financial Group/NFL National Speech and Debate Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
Upper school music teacher Susan Nace, who also directs Cantilena and advises Guys’ Gig, will be on the edge of her seat come Grammy Award night January 31 – and for good reason. Last month, she and the rest of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus were nominated for the Best Choral Performance award for their live recording of “Symphony of a Thousand,” part of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in E flat Major. Produced under the direction of San Francisco Symphony conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and choral director Ragnar Bohlin, the recording was made during live performances in Davies Symphony Hall in November 2008. The recording has also been nominated for Best Classical Album and Best Engineered Classical Album awards. A short video with behind the scenes footage and insights from the recording can be viewed at “A Universe of Sound: Recording Mahler’s Symphony No. 8.”