Had Jim Lucot's great uncle survived World War II, he might just have passed the mantel of "family hero" to his nephew.

Stories about that uncle, James Marshall, produced a lifelong passion in Lucot for the history of World War II and the Holocaust.

That passion has resulted in a national award for the Seneca Valley High School history teacher, who is one of only two teachers in the United States this year to receive the Robert I. Goldman Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education. The other is Christa Miller, an English teacher in Jackson, Ga.

The award by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous will be presented to Lucot on Tuesday at the annual black-tie JFR dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

The director of the JFR called him during class a few weeks ago to tell him he had won the award.

"I'm so shocked," Lucot said. "To be around them is incredible for me. To be chosen among them? I'm humbled. I don't deserve it."

The Goldman Award is given to educators with "outstanding commitment to teaching the Holocaust in their communities," according to a JFR statement.

Lucot of Cranberry Township has been sharing his obsession with World War II and the Holocaust with Seneca Valley juniors and seniors over several years by bringing to the classroom about 20 veterans, Holocaust survivors and Holocaust rescuers as speakers.

Lucot also assigns a World War II project in which students can research any aspect of that war. He also relates the build up to the Holocaust to current worldwide events.

"It really puts kids in a self-examining situation," Lucot said. "You get to a conceptual level so you can say to the kids 'How would you feel if you were in that situation?'"

To reach a high level of understanding on the Holocaust, Lucot a few years ago began taking classes and workshops at the Holocaust Center of the United Jewish Federation in Squirrel Hill. He was nominated by that center to travel to New York two years ago to study the Holocaust on an advanced level.

Edie Naveh, director of the Holocaust Center in Squirrel Hill, said Lucot is dedicated to learning about the Holocaust and how best to transfer that knowledge to students and the public.

"Jim has been extraordinary in his efforts in educating himself and others on the Holocaust, not only in school, but he has made the extra effort to offer education in churches and other community venues," Naveh said.

She said in addition to taking classes there, Lucot has brought groups of students to the Holocaust Center to learn about the event that exterminated more than 6 million Jews during Hitler's Nazi regime in Germany.

"Ever since I have met him, he has been absolutely untiring in all those efforts," said Naveh. "He goes beyond what every ordinary teacher has done."

Naveh, who nominated Lucot for the Goldman award, is thrilled her friend and his wife are traveling to New York to accept the award.

"I think it's a very, very well-deserved award because I think it shows those who work with him and the administrators of his school and his colleagues that he's a wonderful role model as a teacher in our region."

Seneca Valley High School Principal Mark Korcinsky couldn't agree more.

"He relates to students, and his passion is evident and kids respond to that," Korcinsky said. "They want to listen. They're engaged."

Korcinsky said Lucot's students often discover they have family members who served in World War II, and they make a personal connection to the subject.

"We're very proud of him and we're lucky to have him," Korcinsky said.

Lucot admitted to a tad of nervousness regarding his speech before 800 people at the dinner, but said he will rely on his knowledge to see him through.

"I don't know if I'm confident, but I feel I'm competent," Lucot said.

A particular part of the evening Lucot said he is looking forward to is JFR's annual tradition of reuniting a Holocaust survivor with his or her rescuer. At this year's dinner, the JFR will reunite Bronislaw Firuta of Poland with Joseph Bonder, the Jewish teenager he and his family saved. They have not seen each other since 1945.

"It should be very emotional," Lucot said of the reunion.

The JFR honors and supports Righteous Gentiles, non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The foundation provides monthly support to more than 1,000 aged and needy Christian rescuers in 24 countries.