Distinguished Teacher, Service Awards Presented During Opening Meeting

Head of School Dave Faus named upper school math department chair Michael Ruggie the recipient of The Peter and Jody Graham Distinguished Teacher Award during an opening day ceremony in The Barker Performing Arts Center on August 5. The annual award is bestowed upon a Benjamin teacher who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, in addition to unwavering dedication to students, loyalty to the school, and selfless extracurricular contributions. 

“With a calm, kind, and often wry demeanor, our recipient connects powerfully with students on multiple levels. Indeed, even at the start of this new school year, our recipient’s upcoming weekend plans include lunch with last year’s advisee group - a perfect reflection of his heart,” said Faus. 

Faus said it is evident that Ruggie has an enormously generous heart and is a wonderful guardian of the Benjamin traditions of scholarship and character development.

Faus also presented The Bank of America Distinguished Service Award to Facilities Lead Chamy Delva, who has selflessly served the Benjamin community for nearly ten years. 

Supervisor Jim Adle said Delva shows “a unique blend of calm, determination, and resolve in everything he does.”

Head of Middle School Chuck Hagy, in remarks read by Faus, said, “I have heard it said that attitude determines altitude. Chamy exemplifies this in the purest sense.”

Years of Service Awards were presented during the annual meeting to faculty and staff who have devoted their time and talent to the school. 

Congratulations to the following recipients: