This scholarship honors the memory of Tom (T.D) Dowd who dedicated his life to higher education by teaching and leading by example, teaching High School Chemistry and A.P. Chemistry for 34 years. Tom’s devotion to teaching was only personified with being named the University of Rochester High School Teacher of the year in 1994 and in 1996 named the Hilton Central School District’s Teacher of the Year.
An avid sports fan, Tom took up football officiating in 1970 joining the Rochester Chapter of Certified Football Officials (RCCFO) with a career that spanned 50 years of service. Tom was also a 25-year member of the ECAC College football officials’ organization.
Tom’s dedication and professionalism to the game of football provided affiliated recognition; the 1994 RCCFO Football Official of the Year, 2009 inducted into the Section V Football Hall of Fame and 2019 the Greater Rochester Chapter National Football Foundation Outstanding Official award.
It is no coincidence that whether in the classroom or on the football field, Tom exemplified the saying, “to teach is to touch a life forever”.
This scholarship was established to not only honor Tom and pay tribute to his life, but to also honor his values and passions, while also helping to open doors for students who share similar interests
and desires.