Senior School English Teacher Adam Janosko P'38 has been named a recipient of the August Wilson Archive Educator Award, a prestigious recognition from the University of Pittsburgh Library System honoring educators who meaningfully engage students with the life and work of the Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and Pittsburgh native.

Janosko’s spring English course invited students to dive deep into Wilson’s legacy—exploring his plays not just as literature, but as living history rooted in the Hill District and reflective of the broader African American experience. His classroom approach emphasized research, performance, and critical inquiry, making Wilson’s work resonate personally with his students.

Three Senior School students—Ahmeena A., Tatum A., and Diya S.—were also awarded August Wilson Student Research Grants, giving them the opportunity to pursue independent projects that build on their classroom learning and connect directly to Wilson’s archive and legacy.

These honors reflect the ripple effect of inspired teaching, where students not only read great literature but step into it, make it their own, and carry it forward.

More information on the August Wilson Archive and its opportunities can be found here.