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I don't think winning the Habermann Educational Service Award is the same as winning a spelling bee, a race, or any other contest of skill, talent, and/or conditioning. It is more like enjoying the good fortune of a winning streak in a game of chance at a celebrity fundraiser. I won, in large part, just by getting to play among a group of such amazing and impactful people working to make the world a better place.
Every recipient of the award since its inception has written that they were humbled to receive the award. I certainly won't break that fine tradition. I am humbled. Mostly just by getting to play at all.
And, for exactly that, for getting to play, I'll join in another great tradition among recipients, I'll offer thanks. To those who, so many years ago, had a hand in inviting me here: The day my offer letter showed up via Fed Ex, I knew I got lucky. I knew I won. I knew I would get to work with tremendous people. Thank you for that chance.
To the many tremendous people who, over the years, have let me share in your work, and make parts of it my own -- thank you. It has been a gift.
For me the paradox of winning this, the Educational Service Award, is that I won it for getting to share in the incredible work of so many talented and dedicated people, which was, itself, a huge win. That is amazing!
If today I can offer some advice, it would be this. Seek out amazing, passionate, and dedicated people, lend yourself to advance their success, and learn from them everything you can. Share your passion with others, teach them what you know, and let them be a part. Winning is not compatible with a spectator sport. It is all about playing.
Thank you. And, thank you again.
The A. Nico Habermann Educational Service Award
The A. Nico Haberman Educational Service Award recognizes outstanding teaching and contributions to the educational experience in SCS. It acknowledges the spectrum of instructors, lecturers, visitors, and special contributors to our academic programs and their efforts in teaching and the enrichment of our students and community through their commitment, effort and many contributions.
A. Nico Habermann, PhD
Nico Habermann was a head of the Computer Science Department, the founding
Dean of the School of Computer Science, a co-founder and director of the
Software Engineering Institute, and NSF's assistant director for the Computer
and Information Science and Engineering Directorate. He was a leading
researcher and mentor in programming languages and software systems and a
tireless advocate and catalyst for excellence in computer science education.