On Wednesday Jan. 19 Cazenovia High School dominated the Central New York

Technology Educators Awards Night. The Cazenovia Technology Department earned the prestigious accolade of CNY Technology Department of the Year.

Along with earning this honor, their department leader, Chris Hurd, was named Central New York Technology Teacher of the Year. These are two outstanding awards for a department that strives to provide cutting edge technology for their students. Members of the Cazenovia High School Technology Department include Chris Hurd, Rob Axelson, Jason Hyatt, Thuc Phan and Jason Webb.

With such a comprehensive curriculum and learned instructors, it comes as no surprise that over 50 percent of Cazenovia High School students register for technology classes each year.

The department founded and maintains nyelectrathon.com. This program promotes high school students building, testing and racing electric cars. Students not only build the cars, but also drive them and provide “pit crew” assistance during races. More than 20 schools in Central New York have joined the electrathon racing program, which is part of a national program.

Cazenovia boasts a full spectrum of communications classes, a full TV & Podcast studio with an after-school organization called the Broadcast Club.

Fifth through seventh graders also get a taste of the high school technology program, as they are able to participate in an after-school Robotics Club. These students build robots and compete regionally with other schools.

A full complement of computer related courses are available for students to enroll in at the high school, including Intro and Advanced Programming as well as Web Page Design.

Overall, there are more than 18 electives from which students may choose to enroll in at the high school. This includes a 16 college credit sequence at RIT in Pre-Engineering.

The Pre-Engineering course of study is part of the national Project Lead The Way Program (PLTW). Chris Hurd is a master teacher for PLTW, and teaches Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) at Colleges around the country during the summer. He has taught at the Oregon Institute of Technology, the University of South Florida, Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, CalPoly Pomona, University of Kentucky, and the Rochester Institute of Technology. As a Master Teacher, Mr. Hurd also plays an integral role in rewriting the curriculum for CIM that is being taught in high schools around the country.

During the 2009-2010 school year, PLTW program officials conducted a review of the Cazenovia program. Upon completion of their review, Cazenovia was deemed a “Model School” for Project Lead The Way.

Recognition as Technology Department of the Year as well as Teacher of the Year echo the professionalism and dedication these teachers have to education, learning and the future of their students. Cutting edge technology requires these teachers to continually research and employ new technology and theories. They do this and more, and as a result they are recognized locally and nationally for their professional excellence. Excellence begins with the teacher in the classroom, and Cazenovia is the benefactor of these outstanding educators.