Educator Receives Air Force Award

Jack McNamara, Metrowest Daily News

Keefe Tech electrical teacher is named outstanding teacher

In a large electrical workshop, representatives from the U.S. Air Force yesterday presented a Keefe Tech teacher with the Outstanding Technology Education Teacher award.

This was the second time in two years that Neal Mahoney, an electrical teacher with 27 years of experience, has been so honored.

As students hammered away in the background, Mahoney received the plaque from Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott Lowell and Staff Sgt. Chris Mansfield.

The distinction is only given to 250 teachers nationwide from a pool of more than 30,000. Mahoney is one of three in Massachusetts to be honored.

"My real recognition for this goes to the Air Force. Not only are they out promoting technical education, they're also protecting us," said Mahoney, later saying to Lowell and Mansfield, "My hat's off to you."

Mahoney never even knew he was in the running for the honor. In fact, he only found out he was selected for it when the Air Force called him on Tuesday.

He was told an anonymous student wrote and submitted the application and essay nominating him for the award.

"Recognition should go on to the student, whomever he or she is. To write an essay picked out of tens of thousands - something must have shown out," he said. "That reflects not so much on me, but also on the English department."

His students were not present when Mahoney received the honor. They were working on the school's annual community house building project.

"I love them. If it wasn't for the students, we wouldn't be here," he said.

In the classroom adjacent to the workshop, current and former students returned the compliment, covering a wall with handwritten congratulations.

"I'm just one spoke on the wheel that is Keefe Tech. I'm just one part that makes it turn as well as it does."