In his invitation letter to Mr. Ponitch, David reflected on the lasting impact of his teaching: "The dedication to academic rigor that you inculcated in me – and, no doubt, many, many other students – is a cornerstone of my academic success," David wrote. "Equally, your dedication to your students is an example to everyone who shares in shaping the lives of young people. This invitation is an opportunity for me to recognize your excellence as a teacher and to say thank you."

After graduating from Cornell with a degree in Operations Research and Information Engineering, David interned in the White House Office of the Vice President, where he focused on domestic policy issues including the childhood literacy crisis. This fall, he heads to Harvard University for a master's degree in data science while simultaneously completing a master's in financial mathematics at the University of Chicago. But he says it all started in Mr. Ponitch's classroom.

"He insisted on rigor from his students in learning mathematics – truly understanding mathematics, not just learning a series of procedures," David said of Mr. Ponitch, who taught him Honors Precalculus and AP Statistics. "I embraced his enthusiasm for rigorous understanding, and that contributed to my success at Cornell."

"He cared, and he mattered. Mr. Ponitch was present with me at my beginning, and he always will be."

Congratulations, David – and thank you, Mr. Ponitch, for the lasting impact you continue to have on your students.