When he was a student at Binghamton University, Alex Finsel lacked self discipline. Were he to mess up in high school, there was always a teacher, friend or parent to motivate him back onto the right track. But when he entered college, that motivation was absent and by his second semester, his GPA was so low he didn’t know what to do.
That’s when Finsel got a call from a Marine Corps recruiter. He decided to drop out of college.
“It was my escape mechanism. I learned to grow up pretty fast in the military,” he said.
Finsel got what he needed in the ranks of the Marine Corps, and now, more than 15 years after becoming a college dropout, he’s being recognized for his academic achievement as the 2013 recipient of the Jean Edgecumbe Groff ’39 Graduate Scholarship in Education in the School of Education at the University at Albany. And he’s also bringing the ideals that shaped his life for the better to a new generation as a teacher at Shaker High School.
The scholarship was established by 1938 University at Albany graduate Jean Edgecumbe Groff, and is awarded to a School of Education student enrolled in a masters or doctoral program who demonstrates a strong sense of academic merit. In the past two years, Finsel was awarded two other scholarships also based on merit. He figured he had nothing to lose by applying for another.
“I’m flattered. I’m very grateful that this is going to help me continue to finish my education and it’s very humbling. I always have a lot of doubt and am very hard on myself, and to know this … is encouraging and empowering to my talent,” he said. “I was thinking there’s no way I’ll get another one, I thought I’d be monopolizing these things.”
Finsel was quick to add he wouldn’t be able to complete his doctorate in education administration without the help of scholarships and the G.I. Bill. His newest scholarship will help pay his remaining tab for school, and help to extend his benefits from the G.I. Bill, he said.
“I know that if I didn’t have any G.I. money I couldn’t have accomplished any of my educational pursuits,” Finsel said.
When he first joined the Marine Corps, Finsel loved the training and discipline aspect and upon becoming a teacher, he wanted to bring that to the classroom. He had been deployed to Iraq and then moved to North Carolina, where he decided to get back into the educational system and was able to earn two associates degrees and a bachelors degree. After leaving active duty, Finsel was able to use funds from the G.I. Bill and found himself back at Binghamton for a masters in history and teaching social studies.
With his degrees under his belt, Finsel moved to Colonie. He began teaching economics and U.S. history at Shaker High School, where he’s been teaching for the past seven years, and also became the summer school principal.
As a firm advocate for the value of education, Finsel still couldn’t sit still and with the encouragement of others, began pursuing his doctorate in education administration at the University of Albany.
“I’m a big believer in growth,” he said. “For me, education is really important. It’s something I took for granted.”
Finsel said he brings that sense of discipline and inspiring growth straight to his classroom.
“I try to apply real world practicality and emulate good leadership qualities. I try to instill a sense of responsibility to the kids … I’m a big believer in interdependence,” he said.
His passion comes out not only when Finsel is in front of a class, but also when he is in it.
Distinguished Professor Daniel C. Levy said Finsel is always one of the first to have his hand up in the classroom, stay engaged in conversation and take part in discussions outside the class.
“He is special in that he is not only very bright, but he’s unusually inquisitive. By unusually, I guess I mean more than that he’s very inquisitive, he tenaciously tries to figure stuff out. He is simultaneously vigorous in his pursuit, but he’s also modest,” Levy said. “You want the student to be thinking, caring and not resting easy with even the good thoughts that he has. He’s a modest guy and self-questioning.”
With this new scholarship, Finsel said he hopes his students will realize that if they work hard at something, it can open up opportunities.
“That’s the most important gift anybody has, is your mind, whether you choose to use it or not,” Finsel said. “There’s value in hard work. The U.S. is the land of opportunities, but you have to take advantages of those opportunities and find them out.”
Shaker High School Principal Richard Murphy said the school is “extremely proud of his accomplishments.”
Associate Professor of Educational Administration and Policy Studies Sandra Vergari is Finsel’s advisor at the University at Albany, and said he was “passionate about education issues and also a careful, analytical thinker.”
“He has demonstrated a sincere interest in helping to address the challenges confronting today’s teachers, students and public education overall. Given his experience, knowledge and skills, Alex has much to offer the education sector,” Vergari said. “Alex is one of our hardest working and highest performing students. This scholarship process is competitive and Alex has certainly earned this recognition.”
Finsel will be presented with his award at the university’s School of Education Awards and Scholarships Ceremony on Friday, May 10.