MORRISVILLE-EATON INDUCTS THREE ALUMNI TO WALL OF FAME
The Morrisville-Eaton Central School District will induct three distinguished alumni into its 2023 class of the Wall of Fame. This year’s inductees – Robert R. Sherburne, Terri Stewart and Brian S. Murray – will be honored during an October 6 ceremony at 6pm at Morrisville-Eaton Middle/High School.
The MECS Wall of Fame was established to recognize outstanding alumni who have achieved distinction in their lives and chosen fields through significant contributions to their careers, community or personal achievements. This honor is meant to stand as a model and incentive to current and future students, and to recognize the foundation that a quality public education at Morrisville-Eaton played in each recipient’s success.
Honorees were nominated by friends, family, alumni and community members, and a committee of community and school district stakeholders evaluated the nominations. Nominees were eligible if they have an MECS diploma or attended the district for a significant portion of their education, graduated at least 10 years ago, have an appreciation for their MECS education, and have demonstrated leadership, character and service in their profession and community involvement.
The induction ceremony will be led by Superintendent Gregory Molloy, with MECS students Abigail McCarthy, Catherine Jacobs, and Katelyn Doxtater delivering the inductees’ biographies. This year’s Wall of Fame Committee members were: Jamie Kent, Carol Sidoran, Karen Jacobs, Kathy Roher, Nichole Doroshenko, Michael Drahos, Paula Highers and students Catherine Jacobs, Katelyn Doxtater, and Abigail McCarthy.
The Wall of Fame Class of 2023:
Robert R. Sherburne, Class of 1958
Robert was a lifelong educator, having taught Spanish in MECS and Cazenovia for many years before moving into school administration. He retired as an Assistant Superintendent at Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES. He also taught courses at SUNY Cortland, served as regional director for the NYSED’s Effective Schools Consortium Network, and was active in the NYS Association of Foreign Language Teachers, including a year as its president.
Bob was an active member of Rotary International and the American Field Service. He was also a member of the Eaton Fire Department when he lived in the district. After retiring, Bob moved to Florida and served on his community’s Board of Directors, ran the Bridge Club, and volunteered in the library. He earned a Bachelor’s in Education from SUNY Albany, a Master’s in Spanish Education from Colgate University, and a certificate in Educational Administration. Bob passed away in 2022 and is survived by two children and three grandchildren.
Terri Stewart, Class of 1971
Terri spent her career educating both children and other teachers through a variety of roles at various schools across the state. She has taught students from nursery school through high school as well as literacy education courses at two colleges. She has led extensive professional development for educators on ELA standards and NYS assessments. She was a member of a NYSED Committee that developed new ELA Standards-based assessments and rubrics, and she worked with several districts to develop a K-6 writing curriculum aligned to those standards.
Terri earned an Associate’s in Early Literacy Education from SUNY Cobleskill, and a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Master’s in Reading, both from SUNY Oneonta. She and her late husband, MECS alumnus John Stewart, have two children and four grandchildren.
Brian S. Murray, Class of 1983
Brian is the State Director of New York for USDA Rural Development, an agency he has worked for since 2002, when he was hired there as a Loan Specialist. During his tenure at RD, he served as Acting State Director, Associate Enterprise Director for Business Operations, North East Regional Community Economic Development Coordinator and Area Director. Prior to this, he spent 15 years as a loan officer for Community Bank, NA. He also worked for a year after graduating college as a teacher assistant at MECS.
Brian is a longtime volunteer firefighter and a member of the St. Lawrence County Planning Board, recently having served as chairman. He earned a Bachelor’s in Financial Economics from SUNY Potsdam. He and his wife, Sharon, have two children.
On behalf of the entire Morrisville-Eaton school district and community, congratulations to our newest members of the Wall of Fame!