From across the United States and Australia, high school teachers who most inspired 35 of Cornell's top graduating seniors will be honored by the university on May 21. The teachers are being brought to campus as Cornell's guests to be honored with $4,000 scholarships in their names for future Cornell students from their schools or regions.

The teachers to be honored were selected by students who represent the top 5 percent of Cornell's 1997 graduating class. Known as Merrill Presidential Scholars, the students are chosen by deans of each of Cornell's seven undergraduate colleges for outstanding academic achievement, strong leadership ability and potential for contributing to society. The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program is made possible by funding from Philip Merrill, Cornell Class of 1955. In addition to selecting a teacher, each student also honors a Cornell faculty member who has had a strong influence on his or her academic career.

Merrill scholars, high school teachers and Cornell faculty members will be recognized at a luncheon beginning at noon May 21, in Willard Straight Hall on campus.

The STAR (Special Teachers Are Recognized) Scholarship Program, which sponsors the teachers' awards, was established "to recognize the singular influence of inspired teaching and the enduring bonds that are often forged between teachers and those they have taught." The program began in 1989 with support from Donald and Margi Berens, members of the Class of 1947, the William Knox Holt Foundation and the Cornell Alumni Association of Central New York.

Merrill Scholars, their majors and hometowns are listed below, followed by the names of the high school teachers, high schools and Cornell faculty members the students selected for recognition:

• Tanya Axenson, industrial and labor relations, East Syracuse, N.Y.; James Miller, Thomas J. Corcoran High School, Syracuse, N.Y.; James Gross, professor of industrial and labor relations.
• Jakob Begun, biochemistry, Wantagh, N.Y.; Janet Godby, Vaucluse High School, Vaucluse, Australia; Genia Albrecht, senior lecturer in biochemistry.
• Jonathan Boxer, biochemistry, Peekskill, N.Y.; Annette Tremondanis, Hendrick Hudson High School, Montrose, N.Y.; Joseph Calvo, the William T. Kennan Professor of Biology.
• Ivy Chen, biology, Chesterfield, Mo.; Daniel McCarthy, Hong Kong International School; Peter Nathanielsz, the James Law Professor of Reproductive Physiology.
• Michael Coolidge, hotel administration, Jay, N.Y.; Jeanne Hardy, AuSable Valley High School, Clintonville, N.Y.; Gregory Norkus, senior lecturer, food and beverage management.
• Karen DeGroat, biology, Montoursville, Pa.; C. Raymond Huff, Montoursville Area High School, Montoursville, Pa.; C. Drew Harvell, associate professor of ecology and systematics.
• Kristen DiNorscia, civil and environmental engineering, Malvern, Pa.; Rita Stone, Great Valley High School, Malvern, Pa.; Mary Sansalone, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
• Richard Eibach, psychology, Scranton, Pa.; Margaret Loughney, Scranton High School, Scranton, Pa.; Elizabeth Adkins-Regan, professor of psychology.
• Jennifer Erdmann, classics, Ft. Collins, Colo.; Louis Marchesano, Poudre High School, Ft. Collins, Colo.; Frederick Ahl, the Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow and professor of classics.
• Sharon Flicker, human development and family studies, Commack, N.Y.; David Spengler, Commack High School, Commack, N.Y.; Jeffrey Haugaard, associate professor of human development and family studies.
• Christina Foerster, hotel administration, Argenthal, Germany; Werner Adam, Leibnuzzschule, Weisbaden, Germany; Rupert Spies, lecturer in food and beverage management.
• Ravi Ghanta, applied engineering and physics, Oakdale, La.; Ali Rahbar, Louisiana School for Math and Science, Natchitoches, La.; George Hess, professor of biochemistry and molecular cell biology.
• Wade Grana, materials science and engineering, Rochester, N.Y.; Donald Cole, Irondequoit High School, Rochester, N.Y.; Jack Blakely, professor of materials science and engineering.
• Christopher Ho, architecture, Ranchos Palos Verdes, Calif.; Marjory Reid, The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn.; Christian Otto, professor of architecture.
• Aaron Hutman, city and regional planning, Rockville, Md.; Stephen Yablunosky, Rockville High School, Rockville, Md.; Porus Olpadwala, associate professor and chairman of city and regional planning department.
• Dustin James, neurobiology and behavior, Victor, N.Y.; Glenn Simpson, Victor Central School, Victor, N.Y.; Bruce Johnson, senior research associate in neurobiology and behavior.
• Tariq Kassum, biology and romance studies, Toronto, Ontario; Richard Turner, Upper Canada College, Toronto, Ontario; Richard Klein, professor of romance studies.
• Rosemary Keyser, art, Concord, Mass.; Colin Callahan, St. Paul's School, Concord, N.H.; Victor Kord, professor of art.
• Robert Kleinberg, mathematics, Wales Center, N.Y.; Carl Emens, Iroquois Central High School, Elma, N.Y.; Alan Hatcher, professor of mathematics.
• Dennis Ko, biochemistry and molecular cell biology, Fremont, Calif.; James Dann, Natomas High School, Sacramento, Calif.; Gerald Feigenson, professor of biochemistry and molecular cell biology.
• Kenneth Lee, government, Irvine, Calif.; Karen Harwood, Irvine High School, Irvine, Calif.; Jeremy Rabkin, associate professor of government.
• Jonathan Levine, physics, Merion Station, Pa. Joseph Dougherty, Akiba Hebrew Academy, Merion Station, Pa.; Louis Hand, professor of physics.
• Michael Lingle, industrial and labor relations, Burt, N.Y.; George Tripp, Newfane Senior High School, Newfane N.Y.; William Sonnenstuhl, associate professor of organizational behavior.
• Lisa McGill, geological sciences, Williamsville, N.Y.; Robert Neubauer, Clarence Central High School, Clarence, N.Y.; William Bassett, professor of geological sciences.
• Christopher McGuire, plant science, Flushing, N.Y.; Rembert Herbert, Hunter College High School, New York, N.Y.; Ian Merwin, associate professor of fruit and vegetable science.
• Geoffrey Moran, human development and family studies, Rockport, Texas; Sue Meadows, Georgetown Junior-High School, Georgetown, Texas; Barbara Koslowski, associate professor of human development and family studies.
• Jill Morganstern, nutritional sciences, Plainview, N.Y.; George Blouin, Plainview-Old Bethpage High School, Planview, N.Y.; Steven Jackson, associate director of Cornell in Washington.
• Marcia Peer, operations research and industrial engineering, South Paris, Maine; Allen Gerry, Oxford Hills High School, South Paris, Maine; Elizabeth Slate, assistant professor of operations research.
• Sally Randel, College Scholar, Ithaca, N.Y.; James Pullman, Ithaca High School, Ithaca, N.Y.; Ross Brann, professor and chair of Near Eastern studies department.
• Emily Reines, chemistry, New Hope, Pa.; James Shertzer, Council Rock High School, Newtown, Pa.; David Usher, associate professor of chemistry.
• Sarah Shaw, biology, Granby, Conn.; Carolyn Bach, Granby Memorial High School, Granby Conn.; James Blakenship, senior lecturer in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology.
• Aliza Thompson, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, Albany, N.Y.; Marie Sturges, Albany High School, Albany, N.Y.; James Flanders, associate professor of clinical studies.
• Todd Wernicke, chemical engineering, Cincinnati, Ohio; Danny Murray, Sycamore High School, Cincinnati, Ohio; A. Brad Anton, associate professor of chemical engineering.
• Julie Winarski, agricultural resource and managerial economics, Clifton, N.Y.; Maryann Burden, Clifton High School, Clifton, N.J.; Brian Earle, senior lecturer in communication.
• Todd Zion, chemical engineering, Kirkville, N.Y.; James Donohue, East Syracuse - Minoa High School, East Syracuse, N.Y.; T. Michael Duncan, associate professor of chemical engineering.