NSHSS Advisory Board Member Dr. Rudolph Marcus, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 1992, and his son Raymond Marcus, Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction, recently met with NSHSS at the Athenaeum Club on the Caltech campus. They shared insights and experiences with Carla Maxwell Ray, who updated them on the exciting developments at NSHSS.
Both father and son share a love for young people and for encouraging them to uncover their purpose and passion in life, and both are involved with NSHSS. Dr. Marcus said that he urged all of his three sons to pursue their life's passion with excellence, no matter what the occupation. He advises young people to
“read everything you can about your passion and learn as much as you can; challenge assumptions and theories; then build on them.”
Raymond Marcus adds that growing up, he loved reading, and his parents encouraged him in this pursuit by agreeing to pay half the costs of any books that he purchased. He says that he now has 4,000 books, but unfortunately, his parents ended the agreement when he went to college!
Dr. Rudy Marcus, awarded the Nobel Prize for his contributions to the theory of electron transfer reactions in chemical systems, is a professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California. At Caltech, Dr. Marcus enjoys mentoring doctoral and post-doctoral students, as well as leading research ventures. He received the Nobel Prize for his theoretical work on electron transfer, work which has greatly stimulated experimental developments in chemistry. Read more about the importance of his research and theories on the Nobel Foundation website.
Raymond Marcus (completing a Ph.D. at Indiana University), is History Department Chair at the New Community Jewish High School in West Hills, California, and has been selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction. Each year student members of NSHSS have an opportunity to select the teacher who has made the most significant contribution to their academic career. The teacher must be an outstanding role model and positive influence, someone who has made a lasting difference in their lives by encouraging them to strive for excellence.
Raymond Marcus speaks very highly of the NSHSS member that nominated him as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction: “Evan Choate is a wonderful young man in my AP-US History class, and his work is absolutely stellar. On top of his impressive academic accomplishments, he is a genuinely kind and utterly decent human being.” Evan nominated Mr. Marcus for being “a dedicated educator who not only knows everything about history, from Ancient Civilizations to U.S. History, he creates a positive, fun environment in class. He is there for every student, and is willing to give up his time for the complete success for every individual student.”
NSHSS is very proud to be associated with this dedicated and remarkable father and son. We look forward to hearing more from Raymond Marcus, who will speak on behalf of the Claes Nobel Educators of Distinction at our upcoming Scholar’s Day Celebration in Washington, D.C. on May 30.