VOORHEESVILLE — Clare Hemmett made a lasting impression on her Clayton A. Bouton Junior High School students 50 years ago. Now, her former students want to make an impression of their own.

Hemmett, who lives just outside the village, will turn 90 next week. To show their appreciation, her students started a modern-day campaign via Facebook — each participant would send Hemmett a card with well-wishes and a memory of her time in the classroom.

Hemmett taught science during the 1960s, and later became a guidance counselor in Voorheesville schools. One of her students, now also retired, was Janis Le Gere Sutherland, of Voorheesville.

She remembered a story of Hemmett that stayed with her during her own career working in a science lab: Hemmett’s finger had been damaged by a glass pipette that shattered when she attempted to place a rubber bulb on it, Sutherland recalled.

Sutherland, who described the pipette as a device used in laboratories for measuring liquids, said that, in the 1960s when she began her career, “We were using glass pipettes. Nothing was disposable.” Heeding Hemmett’s advice of caution, Sutherland always exercised great care, she said.

After seeing the request for birthday cards on social media, Sutherland took an iPad photo of the Facebook page to record Hemmett’s mailing address. Local acquaintances of Hemmett initiated the campaign, Sutherland said, but students from as far as California participated and even suggested a call to The Enterprise.

“I’m hoping a lot of people send a lot of cards,” Sutherland said, “to let her know she influenced their lives, and that she’s remembered.”

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Those wishing to send cards may mail them to: Clare Hemmett, 256 Helderberg Parkway, Voorheesville, NY  12186.