Dear HONY,

Jon Cruz is not a millionaire, nor a politician, and outside the little niche he has carved for himself and filled with many others he is not famous at all; yet, he is one of the one of the most important men in New York City. He is the coach of the Bronx Science HS Debate Team.

Every day he gives up his time to help his students form their own opinions, grow as citizens and as people. He runs the largest debate team in the country, spending countless hours raising funds for it so that everybody at our diverse public school is able to compete across the nation. He memorizes everybody’s first name after he meets them and will remember them for the rest of his life.

What makes him so memorable? He is a fabulous, unapologetic, Jewish gay man; a model for so many students who came out to him first for help. His style is inspired with equal parts of George Lucas, Walter Mondale, and Liberace. He can tell you the best place for sushi in Soho, pizza in Midtown, and gumbo in Georgia. But most of all, no person could ever do what he does, at least not with the same enthusiasm and care which he does it.

Sincerely,
The Bronx Science HS Debate Team