What is a better way to recognize Teacher’s Appreciation Week in May than to put the spotlight on a science teacher at Hatboro-Horsham High School who has been recognized worldwide?
Mr. Timothy Enge is a teacher at HHHS for Honors Biology, AP Biology, and Marine Biology. He was in the running for the America’s Favorite Teacher competition run by Colossal Management against other teachers across the world. The contest’s prizes include a $25,000 cash prize, a feature in Reader’s Digest, a trip to Hawaii, and an opportunity for popular educator Bill Nye to come to the teacher’s school.
Mr. Enge was recognized on a morning broadcast based in Philadelphia called “Preston and Steve” regarding his entry into the competition. He was recognized along with other participants and referred to as one of America’s favorite teachers.
Enge found out about the competition through numerous advertisements and was quickly persuaded to join it by his students, who were thrilled at the idea of Bill Nye visiting.
When asked how he felt about being nominated for the competition, Enge said that he “felt a lot of pressure from my large amount of student support and my page being reshared on Facebook.” For him, it was overall an overwhelming experience but an exciting opportunity.
Mr. Enge made it to the semifinals and place second out of 16 other candidates in a highly competitive race with many enthusiastic donations and votes. He went against many competitors, including Lisa Elaine Peters, a popular social media influencer.
During the intensity of the competition, a new fan page emerged on Instagram that racked up support for Mr. Enge. This fanpage is run by senior Lillian DiCola, who is a student of Enge’s.
Many students, including DiCola, have had many positive experiences in Mr. Enge’s classes. Sophomore Shawn Wanner had Mr. Enge for Honors Biology and as a soccer coach. He heard that the class would be very difficult, but he said “between cracking jokes and listening to Mr. Enge teach, a hard class became a lot more fun.”
His favorite memory with Mr. Enge was on the soccer field when Mr. Enge was a referee for an annual charity soccer tournament, and he made it a lot more enjoyable for everyone there. Wanner says that he was very surprised Enge made it that far into such a big competition, “but if [he] had to nominate anyone to win, it would be him.”
Mr. Enge said when reflecting back on his overall experience, he recalls “being very surprised at how far I made it.”
Althought he did not win, it is incredible that Mr. Enge was able to make it as far as he did into the America’s Favorite Teacher competition and it shows how much the Hatboro-Horsham community rallied around him. Congratulations, Mr. Enge!
