Two Wisconsin teachers are the recipients of Lawrence University’s 2025 Award for Outstanding Teaching in Wisconsin, given to secondary school teachers who played an important role in the success of students in Lawrence’s graduating class.
The recipients include Pamela Barnhill ’07, a music education graduate of Lawrence who is the director of bands and chair of the Fine Arts Department at St. Mary Catholic Schools (SMCS) in Neenah, and Andrew Del Ponte, a chemistry teacher at Union Grove High School in Union Grove.
The Lawrence Awards for Outstanding Teaching in Wisconsin recognize two secondary school teachers each year with a monetary award to the educator and a donation to that school’s library. The teachers are nominated by Lawrence seniors who attended school in Wisconsin, and recipients are selected by a committee of education faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Conservatory of Music.
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The award honors teachers who create a sense of excitement for and enthusiasm about learning; actively engage students and motivate them to do their best work; contribute to the well-being of their school and its community; and are committed to the personal growth of their students.
Barnhill was nominated by senior Olivia Bahn, an English/creative writing major from Neenah. Barnhill has been teaching at St. Mary Catholic Schools since 2015. She was awarded the SMCS Faculty Leadership Award in 2021 and the SMCS Promising Innovation Award in 2016.
Del Ponte was nominated by senior Marissa Polzin, a chemistry major from Sturtevant. Del Ponte has been teaching at Union Grove since 2011. He advises the National Honor Society and is an assistant girls soccer coach.
Lawrence has been awarding these honors to outstanding Wisconsin teachers since 1985, thanks to the support of a generous donor.
