Samuel Topper Science Award
History of the Award & This Years Winner!!
Courtlandt Lodge #34 F&AM
HISTORY OF THE SAMUEL TOPPER SCIENCE AWARD

Wor. Bro. SAMUEL H. TOPPER (i.e. Sam Topper) was the long time (and for many, including some Brothers of our Lodge,
well remembered) chemistry teacher at Hendrick Hudson H.S., going back to the days when the Periodic Table contained
only 4 or 5 elements!

He was also Worshipful Master of our Lodge in 1956, a year when we Raised more new Brothers than at any time in our
entire 213 year history.  Sam was an active Brother of our Lodge right up until his sudden death in 1985 (he was playing
golf with another Brother of our Lodge when he dropped dead from a sudden heart attack).

Beginning in the late 1940s and continuing for over 30 years, Sam organized Courtlandt Lodge’s annual Basketball Dinner
where we would host a recognition dinner for the basketball teams from what eventually grew to become the four high
schools in our area.  Sam was also a long time high school basketball referee and would use his personal contacts to bring in
guest speakers, including some very notable names from the collegiate coaching ranks like Bobby Knight and Lou
Carneseca, for “significantly less” than their customary speaking fees.  When we sold our former Temple at the end of the
1070s, we tried to keep the dinner going but the logistics and cost of finding a place to hold it became too much.

Sam was also the one who got the Lodge to begin giving a graduation award each year, beginning around 1950.  Some time
after Sam’s death in 1985, we voted to rename the award in his honor.  But the award itself has been given by the Lodge for
over 50 years.

Topper Awards traditionally were awarded to graduating seniors at Hendrick Hudson, Lakeland , Peekskill and Walter
Panas High Schools .  A winner from each school was selected by the school’s Guidance Office based on scientific
achievements.

The amount of the award was adjusted during the years.  Beginning in 2008, the Brothers of Courtlandt Lodge voted to
increase the Topper Award substantially, offer a single award and to make it competitive.  Students from Hendrick Hudson,
Peekskill and Walter Panas Highs Schools were invited to submit applications.  A winner was chosen by the Lodge
Scholarship and Academic Awards Committee and approved by the Brothers.