Colchester — A Bacon Academy science teacher from Montville is being recognized as an “amazing educator” by the University of Connecticut's Early College Experience, which gave him its 2016 Instructor Award for Excellence for his lessons on environmental science.

The Early College Experience, a program for high school students to take UConn classes, gave Joseph Hage the award at a ceremony last month.

Hage, who has received teacher of the year awards from both Bacon Academy and the Colchester School District, was also a semifinalist for the Connecticut Teacher of the Year award in 2006.

“Joe is an amazing educator with boundless energy and passion for the subjects he teaches,” Bacon Academy Principal Matt Peel said in a news release. “Students gravitate to him because of his passion and energy,” he said. “We are very lucky to have him as a part of the Bacon family.”

Hage, who spends much of his time outside with his wife and two children, was awarded the Southeastern New England Marine Educator of the Year in 2011 and nominated for the Presidential Award in Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2016.

Hage is the son of two former teachers who live in Waterford. His father, Elias, taught in Old Lyme for 37 years.

“Mr. Hage’s vast knowledge about the environment (and the) ocean, and his contagious enthusiasm for learning inspires students to learn and become stewards of the ecosystem,” Colchester Superintendent Jeff Mathieu said in the news release.