Will Piper '96 Earns Outstanding Teaching Award

Will Piper ’96, University School of Milwaukee’s assistant director of alumni relations and reunion giving, has been selected as one of just two recipients of the 2023 Lawrence Awards for Outstanding Teaching in Wisconsin. Prior to his current role, Piper served as the 5th grade world cultural geography teacher at USM for 20 years.  

Piper was nominated by his former student, Nick Mayerson ’18, who is graduating this June from Lawrence University with a bachelor’s degree in government and a minor in history. In his nomination, Mayerson said, “Mr. Piper engaged me in a world beyond the walls of the classroom in a way no teacher had before him. He created an unparalleled learning community that existed inside and outside the classroom.”

About the award:
The Lawrence Awards for Outstanding Teaching in Wisconsin recognize two secondary school teachers each year with a generous monetary award and a citation of excellence presented during the baccalaureate ceremony held on commencement weekend. 

Teachers are nominated by graduating seniors who attended school in Wisconsin. Recipients are selected by a committee of education faculty from Lawrence University. Award recipients should be outstanding teachers who create a sense of excitement and enthusiasm for 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.
 
Any Wisconsin middle or high school teacher, public or private, is eligible.