William J. Sacco Foundation
William J. Sacco Foundation
Dr. William J. Sacco was a pioneer in trauma registry research, serving as the co-developer of the Trauma and Injury Severity Score. He also served as the chief research consultant for the American College of Surgeons Major Trauma Outcome Study and honorary fellow of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. In his lifetime, Dr. Sacco published over 15 books and 200 papers papers, solidifying his reputation as one of the leading experts in the trauma field.
The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation was established in July 2011 to honor and continue the life’s work of Dr. William J. Sacco. The Foundation was organized by Sacco protégé, Dr. John F. Kutcher with the support of a legion of Bill’s long-time friends, colleagues, and proteges including executive board members Ron Dove and Mark Stega. In 2004, the foundation would award two William J. Sacco Awards to a student at Bel Air High School and C. Milton Wright High School as an annual scholarship to graduating seniors who demonstrated excellence in the areas of applied mathematics and critical thinking. Since then, the foundation has grown significantly and students and teachers from every high school in Harford Country, Maryland are now eligible to receive awards. In 2012 the foundation held their first ever Sacco Banquet and it has been an annual tradition ever since! As of now, the Sacco Foundation has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships to students and over $14,000 to educators.
Sacco Foundation: A Brief Overview
Who was Dr. William J. Sacco?
Dr. Sacco was both a pioneer in trauma registry research and a prominent math teacher at HCPS, impacting the lives of countless students.
Critical Thinking Foundation
The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation was established by Dr. John Kutcher in 2011 to honor and continue Dr. Sacco's life work.
William J. Sacco Foundation Scholarships
Annually, the Sacco Foundation awards scholarships to students and teachers who demonstrate excellence in mathematics or computing.
Dr. Sacco's Impact
William J. Sacco Awards
Excellence in Applied Mathematics
The William J. Sacco Award for Excellence in Applied Mathematics recognizes students with a high aptitude in the fields of mathematics and critical thinking. Eligible students include seniors from any high school in Harford County, MD. Each year, one of the (up to 13) winning students will be chosen as the Math Student of the Year and will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
Community Award
The Community Award recognizes students who have demonstrated leadership and initiative in advancing mathematics in his or her school/community. This can be done in many ways, such as actively helping other students in the classroom, founding a math club, or demonstrating a dedication to tutoring and sharing knowledge. Eligible students include seniors from any high school in Harford County, MD. Each year, one student will be chosen and awarded with a $750 scholarship.
Mike Franklin Computing Award
The Mike Franklin Computing Award was created with the goal of recognizing and rewarding outstanding students and educators in the field of computer programming in honor of the late Mike Franklin. Mike Franklin was an accomplished software engineer who was given his first computer programming opportunity as a teenager working on software systems. Throughout his 15-year career, Mike would continue to advance in the field, eventually becoming a lead software engineer on his company’s flagship products.
The Computing Award aims to inspire youth to reach their full potential as well as recognize the educators who guide them in their computing endeavors. Both seniors and educators from any Harford County public high school are eligible. Each year, one educator is awarded a $250 prize and one student iawarded with a $500 scholarship.
Mathematics Educator Award
The William J. Sacco Mathematics Educator Award recognizes noteworthy mathematics teachers who carry on Dr. Sacco’s legacy by implementing creative teaching methods and demonstrating a passion for mentoring students. Any high school mathematics teacher from Harford County, MD is eligible for this award. Each year, one of the (up to 12) winning teachers will be chosen as Math Teacher of the Year and receive a $500 prize.
Explore Past Sacco Foundation Events
2026 Sacco Award Banquet: The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation Celebrates 15th Annual Awards Ceremony
The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation proudly celebrated its 15th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at The John Carroll School, bringing together nearly 100 students, educators, administrators, family members, and community supporters for an inspiring evening honoring excellence in mathematics, computer science, and critical thinking.
The milestone event marked another year of recognizing the extraordinary dedication and talent of students and educators across Harford County. This year, the Foundation honored 15 outstanding students and 12 exceptional educators representing the 13 eligible Harford County schools and programs.
2025 Sacco Award Banquet: 26 Students and Educators Honored
The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation held their 14th annual awards ceremony on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at The John Carroll School. One of the largest attended ceremonies in the history of the foundation, the John Carroll gymnasium was filled with students, educators, school administrators, and foundation supporters to celebrate the honorees.
The foundation honored 15 students and 11 educators from 13 eligible schools and programs in Harford County. In total, the foundation will give out more than $14,000 in scholarships and grants.
2024 Sacco Award Banquet: 23 Students and Educators Honored
The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation held its 13th annual awards ceremony on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at The John Carroll School. Nearly 100 students, educators, school administrators, and foundation supporters were in attendance to enjoy the evening.
This year, the foundation honored 13 students and nine educators from 13 eligible schools and programs in Harford County. For the first time, Swan Creek had a scholarship winner recognized after being added to the eligible schools in 2023. Overall, the foundation gave out $12,250 in scholarships and grants.
2023 Sacco Award Banquet: Sacco Foundation back In Person for 12th Annual Awards
The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation held their annual awards ceremony on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at The John Carroll School in Bel Air. This was the first in-person event for the foundation since March 2020.
This annual event brought nearly 120 students, educators, and supporters of the foundation together to celebrate 14 students and 10 educators from 12 Harford County High Schools and programs.
Past Sacco Award Recipients
Hope Kerr: First Ever Recipient of the Sacco Community Math Award
Hope Kerr was one of the first ever recipients of the William J. Sacco Foundation's Community Mathematics Award. After graduating high school, Hope went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Statistics and a Master of Arts in Economics from Boston University (BU), graduating summa cum laude and being recognized as a Top Economics Undergraduate Student.
Hope is currently pursuing her Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, with hopes to integrate the fields of medicine and mathematics.
Follow the link above to learn more about Hope's story!
Kathryn Yurechko: 2020 Recipient of the Sacco Math Award
Kathryn Yurechko was the 2020 recipient of the Sacco Award for Excellence in Applied Mathematics. After graduating high school, Katie went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Washington and Lee University, graduating summa cum laude as the valedictorian of her graduating class and receiving the Class of 2024 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.
Katie is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Social Research Methods with Data Science from UCL, continuing to combine the fields of computer science, research, and mathematics.
Follow the link above to learn more about Katie's story!
Sacco Foundation News
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