Sep 1, 2003 -- Sitting at a table in Belfer Hall’s cafeteria on the Wilf Campus, Harriet Levitt reminisces about her 23-year teaching career at the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/ Yeshiva University High School for Boys. When one of her former English students and debate team members nominated her as the high school teacher who most influenced him, Mrs. Levitt said she felt “humble” about receiving her first formal accolade for teaching. “My true reward is keeping in touch with former students,” Mrs. Levitt said. “I am very curious about them and I care about them.” When former student Howard Heching, YH’98 of Monsey, NY, was inducted into Cornell University’s Merrill Presidential Scholars Program this spring, Mrs. Levitt immediately came to mind. Mr. Heching, 23, graduated from Cornell in May and plans to attend Cornell’s Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College this fall. He was one of 35 graduating seniors (representing the top 1 percent of his class) to receive the Merrill award that recognized students for academic achievement, strong leadership ability, and potential for contributing to society. Merrill recipients choose one high school teacher and one college professor who inspired them and contributed to their scholastic experience. Mrs. Levitt was one of 35 high school teachers (who came from as far as India, Singapore, Bulgaria, and Japan) who were honored during a two-day event at Cornell. “Basically, it really wasn’t much of a decision for me,” Mr. Heching said about nominating his sophomore English teacher. “She is very caring about her students and really wants to make sure they make the right decisions.” Mrs. Levitt, who lives in Scarsdale, NY, describes herself as “curious, accepting, and demanding,” and said she often pushes her students to fulfill their potential. MSTA Dean Michael Hecht agrees. “We are very pleased to know that Harriet Levitt’s selfless dedication over more than two decades has been acknowledged not only by the Yeshiva community, but also by the larger academic world.” In addition to teaching and coaching the debate team, Mrs. Levitt is a mother of three (her middle child, Mark, graduated from MSTA in 1983 and from Yeshiva College in 1988) and a grandmother of five. She plays tennis, participates in a Hadassah reading group, and exercises every morning with a walking group. But, smiles Mrs. Levitt, “My chief interest is my grandchildren.”