UC Honors Butler Tech Instructor for Inspiring a Future Graduate

Josh Hays of Hamilton, Ohio, says it was Mr. O’Neill’s satellite course at Ross High School that changed Josh’s life and directly led to his enrollment in the University of Cincinnati’s College of Applied Science, where he’s a double major in electrical and computer engineering technology. “He leads by example,” says the 22-year-old UC senior, who plans to graduate next summer. “We were held to the highest standards in every aspect of our education.”

Tom O’Neill of Hamilton, Ohio, an IT instructor at Ross High School through the Butler Technology & Career Development School, will be one of four teachers from around the Tristate to be honored by the University of Cincinnati when he receives the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award at UC’s December Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony takes place at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center. O’Neill will be presented with a $1,000 UC scholarship to be awarded to a high-school senior of his choosing who plans to attend UC in the 2008-2009 academic year.

The educators were nominated by soon-to-graduate UC students who wanted to recognize a K-12 educator who had a lasting impression on their pursuit of a college degree. The recipients were selected from 27 nominations reviewed by a UC committee that included representation from the Office of the President, UC faculty, staff and students.

O’Neill has worked as an instructor for seven years and teaches 10th, 11th and 12th-graders. Josh says it was Mr. O’Neill’s satellite course at Ross High School that exposed Josh to real-world challenges related to computer information technology. “When I started working in the technical field, I got to see the real value of things I learned in his class,” Josh says. “I’ve stayed involved in the Tech Prep program and Mr. O’Neill is always implementing new material to stay in touch with current technologies.

“One thing I remember is Mr. O’Neill’s unwavering attention to professionalism,” adds Josh. “He always holds his students to higher standards, because he wants them to be better prepared for the challenges they will face after graduation. Ross High School is one of the few high schools that has a trophy case dedicated to the IT classes. These trophies were earned through local, regional and national competitions. Mr. O’Neill has taken the class to a whole new level since I graduated, and each year, he strives to make it better.”

O’Neill, who owns his own company, Stellar Software Inc., says he became an instructor because he felt that as an IT professional he could make a difference in preparing future IT workers. He adds that Josh was among the first group of students he worked with as he began his job as an instructor. “We’ve been in contact in the years since he graduated from Ross High School almost as much as I’m in contact with my current students. It’s his ambition, enthusiasm and inquisitive mind that will lead people like Josh to help the IT field change the world.”

This December marks the third year that UC has presented the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Awards to recognize K-12 educators who inspired students to pursue a higher education. Josh Hays and Tom O’Neill will get a chance to catch up with each other before the afternoon Commencement Ceremony when they join UC President Nancy L. Zimpher at a special brunch that will take place at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, in the Faculty Club Banquet Room in Room 850 of the Richard E. Lindner Center.

Read More About the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award

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