Erik Powers is an alumni of Marist High School and a four-time Emmy award winner. His most recent win came for his work on the television program Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals. Powers, who attended Notre Dame, gave one of his Emmy statues to his mother, one to his father, one he kept for himself, and the other he gave to a member of our Marist community, Mr.Owen Glennon.

Powers had Glennon as a math teacher three times during his academic career at Marist. Glennon said that they did not have any sort of special relationship other than Powers was also a member of the Marist math team – of which Glennon was, and still is, a moderator.

During his senior year Powers was voted class president and had a “certain…dark- humored personality” who always wrote “humorous essays” according to Glennon. While Glennon does not recall Powers showing any particular interest in sports or broadcasting, he remembers Powers to have been a “fantastic writer.”

Glennon recalls his class, during Powers ’senior year, to have a certain camaraderie that Powers seemed to remember as well. After Powers graduated, he went on to college and proceeded to his career at NFL Network. Glennon only communicated with his former student via e-mail, and even then their contact was limited to about
once a year (Glennon plans on improving his communication with Powers). When Powers  won  his  Emmy  and  originally offered it to Glennon, Glennon refused.

“I didn’t want to take it from him,” Glennon said. “It didn’t seem right. I said ‘no’ about four times [laughs], but he was insistent and I said, ‘I will hold it for you. If your kids ever want to see it or something you can have it back whenever you need it.’”

When asked why Powers gave Glennon the award, Glennon responded that Powers credits him with the success he has today, that the high standards that Glennon set gave Powers confidence as he endeavored to meet them.

On  Oct.  8,  during  the  homecoming rally, Principal Larry Tucker produced the Emmy from a massive, black lock-box and held it in the air. Tucker then proceeded to give a brief history on Powers and formally presented the award to Glennon, who quietly and in a very dignified manner, walked to just off-center on the gym floor and took the statue in hand.

“It’s   been   a   humbling   experience.” Glennon said. “You don’t expect students to be that generous in thanks.” For Glennon the award is icing on the cake. “As a teacher you get satisfaction from the success of your students. Getting
the Emmy as a gift was not something I was expecting.”

To Glennon, the award represents more than a special achievement in television or a ‘thank you’ from a former student; it is the sign of a job well-done.

“As a teacher, if you touch the life of one kid, then you’ve done a good job,” he said. “Ultimately that is what teaching is about –  making  sure  that  your  students  are successful.”

But this chain of events has a greater sense of meaning to Glennon. “We make an impact that we aren’t aware of.  Not just teachers, people in general,” Glennon said. “Our actions affect people in ways we can’t imagine.  It’s bigger than the subject of our actions.  It’s about who we are as
people.”


Powers’ win represents the hard work and dedication of a former student who knows the value of hard work and confidence, and it represents the dedication of the teacher who taught him those ethics.