Headmaster Dr. Jean-Marc Juhel congratulates first grade teacher Hillary Janik after becoming Buckley's very first recipient of the George Robert Gage Endowed Award.. At Buckley Country Day School's annual Trustee-Faculty and Staff Reception, Board Chair William Arnone and Headmaster Dr. Jean-Marc Juhel announced the generous endowment gift of $111,000 made by Mr. and Mrs. Gage of Garden City. This gift will fund annually the George Robert Gage Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching to honor a Buckley faculty member who has distinguished him/herself as an exceptional teacher. The annual $5,000 award will be derived from the investment income earned on the endowed gift from Mr. and Mrs. Gage. At the event, Mr. Gage spoke warmly of his late father for whom the gift is named, recalling with humor and emotion the importance his father placed on education and outstanding teachers.

In a letter to the Gages acknowledging this generous gift, Mr. Arnone and Dr. Juhel expressed their wholehearted appreciation: "Bob and Soraya, the school is deeply grateful for your thoughtfulness and generosity in establishing this gift to commemorate your father. We are honored that you have chosen the faculty of Buckley Country Day School for this recognition and tribute."

Lt. to rt.: Sean Collins, Board Chair William Arnone, Bob and Soraya Gage, Elaine Phillips, and Headmaster Dr. Jean-Marc Juhel celebrate the establishment of the George Robert Gage Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching at Buckley Country Day School. . Mr. and Mrs. Gage are the parents of George, Buckley '08 and David, Buckley '11. Mr. Gage is a member of the Buckley Board of Trustees.

Selected by the headmaster and the chair of the board, and presented at Buckley's graduation exercises, the first recipient of this prestigious George Robert Gage Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching is Mrs. Hillary Janik, Buckley first grade teacher. A master teacher, esteemed by her colleagues, Mrs. Janik creates a consistently joyful, rich, and dynamic learning environment. She has been inspiring children and teachers ever since she arrived at Buckley in 2001. Mrs. Janik and her husband Joe reside in Manhasset.