DEARBORN, Mich. — Great teachers demonstrate a passion for their subject, as well as a desire to positively impact the life of all students. Clement “Clem” Fucci, teacher at Westfield Vocational Technical High School was recognized for being one of those great teachers. Fucci was recently honored by the SME Education Foundation (SME-EF) with the Professor George Schneider Jr. Manufacturing Technology Education Faculty Award.
This award was created from a gift made by Professor George Schneider and his family to the SME Education Foundation. Schneider is a lifetime member of SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) and a certified manufacturing engineer who values leadership, service, perseverance and entrepreneurship. The award recognizes a faculty member who exhibits outstanding teaching ability in the field of advanced manufacturing.
Clem Fucci has served in an area of manufacturing technology for more than 30 years. As a graduate of Westfield Vocational High School, Fucci started his career as tool maker, and then later discovered his passion to educate others in the field of manufacturing. Shortly after receiving his Occupational Certification from Westfield State College, Fucci began teaching in the Manufacturing Technology Department at Westfield High School.
The Professor George Schneider Jr. Manufacturing Technology Education Award was presented at the SME Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland on June 3. Fucci received a $500 honorarium and crystal award.
As Westfield’s Manufacturing Technology Department chairman for the past 27 years, Fucci has worked with local manufacturing businesses, politicians and educators to promote manufacturing in western Massachusetts. He has been honored with numerous awards and recognition including Wal-Mart’s Teacher of the Year in 2005 and the Harold Grinspoon Excellence in Teaching Award in 2009.
Westfield Vocational Technical High School is one of the SME Education Foundation’s PRIME® (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) schools. PRIME, a community-based approach to manufacturing education, is part of a commitment by the Foundation to address the shortage of manufacturing and technical talent in the United States. Model schools funded by PRIME offer STEM-based curriculum to prepare young people for highly skilled jobs with lucrative potential. One of the richest sources of employment and economic growth will be jobs requiring a solid STEM education.
