I have essentially held two full-time positions, the first being a teacher-administrator-recruiter-fundraiser, and the second, although more visible but less satisfying-a broadcaster.  My love for students was never replaced by the media glitz.  I still have boundless energy and a strong desire to improve the lives of those who have a desire to better themselves and their community.

At Calasanctius, a school for the academically talented, I had great success as indicated in my resume.

I arrived to this great country of ours in 1956 after the ill-fated 1956 Hungarian revolution, which in retrospect now laid the groundwork for the ultimate demise of Communism.  Suffice it to say that I had to escape then and could not return for 34 years.

I arrived in Derby, NY at a boarding home where, within months, I asked to be an assistant to the director, while I was only a High School senior.

I joined the Boy Scouts (Troop 214) and rose to the position of Scoutmaster within two years.

I also used my masonry and carpentry skills to build a couple of additions to the boarding home building.  In order to fund some of these additions, we were all involved in fundraising.

I also taught Hungarian History and Geography to the students at the boarding home while I was a full-time student at Erie County Technical Institute, commuting daily on the Greyhound bus from Derby.

Upon completion of my US military service, I started working at Calasanctius School.

I started my career at Calasanctius School as a math teacher in 1961 while I still attended college. Calasanctius was unique in the educational community since it was established as a school for gifted and talented students.

Within two years I was named Chairman of the department, being responsible not only for teaching, but writing the re-writing the curriculum to meet the needs of the gifted children.  It was also my responsibility to assist and hire knowledgeable (rather than simply qualified) and innovative teachers for the bright and eager students at Calasanctius, whose course studies ran 2-3 years ahead of their chronological age.

I later became the Dean to Students and soon rose to the position of Assistant Headmaster.

I taught courses for Fourth through Twelfth, including geometry, preparing students for the minimum competence tests (resulting in scores in the high 90 percentile) and Regents exams.  In most years the winners of Regents scholarships were in the high 90% or even 100%.

To teach the gifted, write a challenging curriculum for them, and select books to come near the expectations was no small task.  Grading was also a problem-while a gifted child in a regular setting could easily earn a perfect grade, in a highly accelerated class he or she would have to struggle to earn a B.  Again, explaining this to colleges wasn’t easy, but the standardized tests PSAT, SAT, and Math ACH-I and ACH-II spoke for their efforts, along with Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

With the most highly selected math students, I prepared them for different levels of City, County, State and National Math competitions.

In the Mathematics Seminar Research Program I taught students methodology of research and obtained specific advisors from several University professorial pools.

I also participated in the design and implementation of the educational field trips that took the “Cal” students to the majority of the States as well as some Canadian provinces.  These historical, geographical, and scientific trips included trips to the Great Lakes, New England, the Southeast, and the South- and North-West.  The duration of these trips varied from 10 to 30 days and accommodations were in school gyms, church halls, and campgrounds.  I was also the bus driver on all the trips I led.  I consider these the most important and rewarding learning experience for student and teacher alike.

According to my colleagues and the majority of my “Cal” students, I had a high degree of success within the math department, both professionally in the design of the curriculum and it’s implementation, as well personally in my efforts to nurture the desire to learn.

My participation in the learning process at the dawn of the “New Math” is quite well documented with my three National Science Foundation sponsored summer workshops at various universities

I can hold my own in any topic of conversation: education, business, politics, sports, etc.  I make friends easily and am at ease conversing with new people.  I can empathize as well as sympathize.  I can praise with vigor or chide with care. I have been told I have a great sense of humor.  I don’t do anything half-heartedly.  My 28 years of experience in broadcasting, where I rose to sales manager and Vice President in 6 months at WHLD speaks for itself.  I would be delighted to share some of the most unique and innovative promotional ideas we have developed.  The first Classic Rock radio-Wizard, Z-98, the Beetle Boards on 33 identical Volks Wagons, with the magenta colored “Wizard waving the magic wand” on the snow-white automobile.  Not to mention the first Rock Ballet, the Psychedelic fur coat, Psycho chicken and the like.  On the other hand we managed to keep a low profile for the sister station, WHLD which we developed into one of a kind BIG BAND – MULTICULTURAL ETHNIC and RELIGIOUS station, that we refer to as the Station of the Nations or the Leader in Christian Radio.

As I indicated earlier, I started my career in broadcasting at a little known radio station WWOL, which later became WACJ which in turn it became WHTT AM.  WHTT turned into WMNY-1120AM, and finally WMNY Heaven 1120 evolved into the present day Heaven 1120.  Interestingly enough, I have made a full circle and became manager of Heaven 1120AM as well as WHLD.  While we strive to keep WHLD a “Multicultural Ethnic, Religious” station, we make no compromise with WMNY-Heaven 1120 AM.  With WMNY-Heaven 1120Am radio it is an all Gospel radio station,programming a dynamic mix of Urban Gospel Music along with teaching and preaching ministries to serve the mature audiences of the Greater Buffalo Area’s African Americans.  We are judged by the company we keep and the company the keeps us.

I have been blessed with enough talent, brainpower, logical reasoning and communication skills, be it in writing or public speaking.  My organizational skills are excellent.  I am in superb health and in top shape.  I can actively participate in most sports.   I am considered a good handyman, from brick laying to carpentry and woodworking.  I am also good with the camera.  I am very proud of the many volumes of poetry that I have written in both English and Hungarian.

I love to sell, I love to teach, and I love to work, and I love my grandchildren.

Eugene L Hegedus