Bates historian receives Celebration of Excellence Award

Steve Hochstadt, professor of history at Bates College, has been selected as a finalist for the Pizzagalli Construction Company Celebration of Excellence Award.

Hochstadt will receive $1,000 to be presented at an April luncheon in Burlington, Vt. The award was created by the Vermont-based Pizzagalli company, one of the country’s largest privately held general contractors, to support and encourage college faculty members who have demonstrated a commitment to be the very best at their chosen endeavors, whether in pursuit of their academic careers or personal goals.

In nominating Hochstadt for the award, Jill Reich, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Bates, described Hochstadt as “a devoted teacher and adviser, an intrepid scholar and a conscientious citizen of Bates and Maine.” A professor at Bates since 1979 and presently chair of the history department, Hochstadt is actively involved in statewide education initiatives about the Holocaust and human rights issues. He has served on the board of directors for the Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine since 1993 and has received many awards for his work on Jewish community issues and the Holocaust. Hochstadt, who teaches “The Holocaust: The Genocide of European Jews,” one of Bates’ most popular offerings, turns his biennial lecture course into an intense personal experience.