Each year since 2015, one Mount Carmel teacher has been chosen as the Green Jacket award winner. However, this year marks a milestone for the award, as Mr. Daniel Haggerty’s selection makes him and Mr. John Haggerty the first father-son duo to have won.
This year’s award ceremony took place on Tuesday, April 8, in the main gymnasium. The whole student body gathered in the stands, while past Green Jacket winners sat on the court with the family of the late Kevin Hansen, a former MC teacher for whom the award remembers, and school principal Mr. Scott Tabernacki, who spoke to the school. Mr. Haggerty, chair of the English Department, was announced this year’s winner, and theology teacher and Campus Ministry Director Mr. John Stimler was also named an honorary Green Jacket award winner, recognizing his years of service and yearly organization of the Green Jacket award.
This was not Mr. Haggery’s first time being a finalist for the award. His fellow faculty members recognize him as a leader within the building.
“He is a pillar of the school,” Theology teacher Mr. Dominic Scheuring said. “He is tireless. The guy is constantly thinking about reforming and working on his curriculum within his teaching. He is among the best teachers at the school.”
Scheuring was also a finalist for the award this year, alongside art teacher and dean Mrs. Julie Chappetto.
Mr. Haggerty is also recognized for his ability to make an impact on the students beyond academics.
“He leads by example for sure,” Mrs. Chappetto said of Mr. Haggerty. “He is teaching our students to [pursue] not only our values at Mount Carmel, but also our faith and religion.”
Known for his rigorous curriculum, especially within the junior AP Language and Composition class, students appreciate the effort he puts in to help them.
“He is very deserving,” junior Brady Holland said. “He makes me like to come to English class, and he is a great role model. He always pushes us in class.”
While his AP course may be among the most challenging at MC, most students walk out performing exceedingly well on their AP exams as well as their SAT and ACT standardized tests.
Towards the end of the ceremony, Mr. Stimler was called to receive his own honorary Green Jacket. However, he had no knowledge of this happening beforehand, and this marks the first time that two current faculty members were honored the same year.
“It was a shock for me,” he said. “It was really moving, [especially] with my relationship with Kevin [Hansen] and continued relationship with his mom and dad. I feel humbled.”
While Mr. Stimler denies any credit for his award, some faculty members speculate that he has purposefully taken himself out of the race for being nominated each year. They look up to him as a mode for Christian living.
“He is a pillar of someone who is committed to serving others in every single facet,” Mr. Scheuring said. “How do I become a better Christian or teacher? Looking to Mr. Stimler is a good start.”
Ultimately, the award is dedicated to the life of Mr. Hansen and therefore recognizes those faculty members who exhibit his traits. Mr. Haggerty was actually one of Mr. Hansen’s first students at MC and admired his characteristics.
“He was just so comfortable in who he was, and he was committed to the things he thought were important,” Mr. Haggerty said. “He was constantly recommitting himself to who he wanted to be and what he believed in.”
He sees the Green Jacket Award as a way of modeling what a teacher should truly be for the students.
“Mr. Hansen was the kind of person that you wanted at Mount Carmel,” he said. “Having that example of his to follow is good for our teachers, and this award reminds us of that.”
There will never be another like Mr. Hansen, but there will certainly be teachers at MC that are deserving of being held up to his standard.
“He still shapes the way we do things here, even though it’s been ten years since he’s been present on staff,” Mr. Stimler said. “So keeping those memories alive is important.”
