Bill Ziskin taught his students how to make great art. More importantly, he taught them how to function as reliable, responsible adults--and showed them, through his actions, how to be good people. He played a huge part in Schenectady not just keeping but growing its arts program during countless budget crises. He helped untold numbers of students graduate from high school who otherwise wouldn’t have had a reason to show up at school each day.

His students suceeded in college and the workforce because of what they learned in their work with him. Those of us who were lucky enough to learn from him have gathered online in the wake of his passing, still able to repeat the lessons he gave us: on time means ten minutes early, every day is an audition, that was good, now do it better.

We hope that you will consider our request to preserve Mr. Ziskin’s legacy by naming Schenectady High School’s Black Box Theatre at the John Sayles School of Fine Arts after him.