Lindridge Receives Masonic General Douglas MacArthur Award

Stephen Lindridge, Technical Education teacher at Candor Central High School, was presented the General Douglas MacArthur Youth Award by Candor Masonic Lodge #411. School board members, family, friends and students honored him on Oct. 20, 2017 and during a reception that was well attended. Senator Fred Akshar, who was unable to attend, declared, by proclamation that Friday, Oct. 20, 2017 was officially Stephen Lindridge Day.

“Mr. Lindridge has been a Technical Education teacher at Candor Central High School for the past 27 years,” Randy Connor, past master of the Candor Lodge said. 

He added, “He first came to Candor Masonic Lodge #411’s attention while we interviewed graduating seniors for a local scholarship that our lodge presents each year. During our student interviews, we always ask the question: which teacher has had the greatest impact on you during your time at Candor Central School? In over 20 years of interviews, we began noticing a common thread contained in the answers of the students. Invariably, one of the names most commonly mentioned was Mr. Stephen Lindridge.”

The General Douglas A. MacArthur Award and Medal, presented to Lindridge that evening, is a distinguished award presented to non-Masons, men, women, or organizations that demonstrate “exemplary and voluntary” community service to youth.

“When applying for this award on Stephen’s behalf,” Randy Conner continued, “Our Lodge presented a case to the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York. Grand Lodge was very pleased with our choice and agreed that Stephen should be a recipient of this award.”

During his tenure at Candor Central School, Lindridge has been instrumental in working with local companies to secure donations of plasma cutters, CNC milling machines, 3-D printers, as well as a treasure-trove of accessories, and even scrap materials for use in the classroom.

“His understanding of the workplace environment and the use of these tools as a teaching opportunity has prepared many students for life after school. Through teaching, counseling and volunteering his time, he utilizes these opportunities to teach students useful, real-world and marketable life skills,” Connor said.

As a testament to Lindridge’s unique teaching skills, several students have written letters on his behalf, one of which was read that evening. 

Gary Henry, Jr., Mason and school board member, read a letter from his son, Benjamin Henry:

“I was a 17 year-old kid with no idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I was trying to figure out what I was going to study in college. Being in Lindridge’s classroom helped me realize I had a knack for, and an interest in engineering and problem solving. He inspired me to study engineering in school, and was a major catalyst that helped to bring me where I am today. I don’t have the words to describe how significant an impact Mr. Lindridge had on my life, nor to show how much I appreciate what I learned in his classroom – his work is appreciated more than he can possibly know.” (Benjamin Henry, after receiving his BS and MS from Syracuse University in Aerospace Engineering, is now employed as an Aerospace Modeling and Simulation Engineer.)

Jeff Kizlowski, Candor Central School District superintendent, described Lindridge, stating, “He’s old school yet future oriented, he’s a throwback but he’s always in style. He has a sensibility, practicality, work ethic and values of yesteryears, but he is always planning, preparing and working for his students’ futures. He understands the people that his students are, and the people he wants to help them become, through education. He’s very special indeed, and we are lucky to know him and lucky to have him teach, inspire, and influence the students in Candor.”

Lindridge has received previous recognitions and awards as a Technology Educator, as well as State Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year.