April 4, 2006 issue
EMU salutes its finest during Week of Excellence

By Ron Podell

 

WITH DISTINCTION: Distinguished Faculty Awards were handed out at the 29th Annual Faculty Awards Ceremony March 29. (from left) Peter Bednekoff, associate professor, biology, Scholarly/ Creative Activity; Cara Shillington, associate professor, biology, Teaching I; Joan Cohen Jones, associate professor, mathematics, Teaching II; and Karen Menke Paciorek, professor, teacher education, Service to the University.

Eastern Michigan University rolled out its version of the red carpet, as it honored its best and brightest during its annual Salute to Excellence Week March 27-31.

The awards ceremonies included the Graduate Research Fair Awards; the Human Resources Employee Recognition Awards (for years of service); Student Gold Medallion Awards; the Celebration of Faculty Excellence Awards, which included the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards; Founders Day/Gold Medallion Awards; the College of Education Salute to Excellence and the Undergraduate Symposium.

Four Distinguished Faculty Awards — the University's most prestigious for faculty, which was renamed three years ago to honor the late, former provost Ron Collins — were handed out.

Cara Shillington, assistant professor of biology, took home the Teaching I honor and Joan Cohen Jones, associate professor of mathematics, won the Teaching II Award. Karen Menke Paciorek, professor of teacher education, garnered the Service to the University Award and Peter Bednekoff, associate professor of biology, earned the Scholarly/Creative Activity Award. Each received a plaque and a $3,500 honorarium.

Shillington recalled how she was very fortunate to find the right job right after completing her Ph.D. and said "EMU was her first interview." She amused the audience when she told them that while, during a phone interview with biology professor Jamin Eisenbach, she kept referring to EMU as "your university" because another university she applied to also began with "Eastern" and she forgot which institution she was talking to.

"About three-quarters through the interview, Jamin said, 'You don't remember the name of the university, do you?'" Shillington said with a laugh.

Growing up, Jones said she was an awful math student, almost failing algebra and geometry. Her parents got her a tutor and she eventually became what she termed "a math whiz." Because her teachers cared about her and showed an interest, Jones said she gained confidence and eventually loved math.

"I try to make math a fun and positive experience for all of my students," Jones said. "Teachers change lives. They certainly changed mine."

"This is a real honor," said Bednekoff, who was honored for his research in behavioral ecology. "It's such an honor this is the first time I've worn a tie at EMU and the first time I've worn a suit since my wedding."

Bednekoff credited his success to his colleagues and their good advice, referring to research as a social activity because it is rarely done alone.

Of all the types of service she does, Paciorek said her favorite contributions are "those that help Eastern students."

Paciorek, who has turned service into a life's passion, told the audience her introduction to service came when she was 10 and her sister was six. Both dressed in their Halloween costumes and went to a retirement home Nov. 1.

"My Mom called it 'reverse trick-or-treat.' They (seniors) wanted us to spend some time with them," Paciorek recalled. "The habits we learn as children carry over."

To date, 107 Distinguished Faculty Award winners have been named, with 59 currently still working at EMU as faculty or administrators, said Interim Provost Don Loppnow, who lauded the faculty for educating EMU's students.

"It's our faculty that makes this happen through outstanding teaching, engaging research activities and service to the University," Loppnow said.

Office of Academic-Service Learning Fellows, Sabbatical Leave recipients, Faculty Research and Creative Fellowships, Graduate School Research Support Fund Awards, Faculty Spring-Summer Research awards and the Provost's New Faculty Research Awards also were announced at the Celebration of Faculty Excellence Awards March 30.

M. Gaie Rubenfeld, associate professor of nursing, and Barbara Scheffer, professor of nursing, received the Faculty Scholarship Recognition Award for "Critical Thinking TACTICS for Nurses." Heather Neff, professor of English language and literature, was the winner of the Faculty Artistic Recognition Award for her novel, "Haarlem." Each received $1,000 and a plaque for their efforts.

SOLID GOLD: Winners of the Gold Medallion Awards and some of the Student Gold Medallion winners pose after the Salute to Excellence Breakfast Gold Medallion Awards March 30.

The Gold Medallion Awards celebrated its silver or 25th anniversary, with presenters paired due to their former emcee duties at the event. Since 1982, the Gold Medallion Awards have honored persons or groups who have made significant contributions to the success of divisional programs, activities or services.

When the Gold Medallion Awards began, Jim Vick, vice president for student affairs, told the audience that the first space Challenger was launched, gas was $1.13 a gallon and "Dallas" was the No. 1 television show.

Awards were presented in 12 categories at this year's breakfast ceremony March 30. Faculty and staff Gold Medallion honorees were: Anita Amrhein, public safety (clerical/secretarial), Lisa Lauterbach, counseling services (professional/technical/DPS sergeants and officers), Denise Wilkerson, housing (food service/maintenance/custodial), Brian Fitzgerald, housing (administrative/professional), Kathy Stacey, communication and theatre arts (faculty), Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee (person/group external to the division but within the University) and Mark Wellman, Camtronics Communications (person/group external to the University). In addition, Gold Medallion awards were given to Susan Sohn, Office of International Students (new employee), Housing Online Sign-up Project Team (innovation), Ellen Gold, University Health Services (divisional ambassador), Carlos Stewart, housing (outstanding service by an individual) and the Children's Institute (outstanding service by a group or team). Larry Smith, former vice president for student affairs and the catalyst to create the Gold Medallion Awards, received a special honor.

Winners produced reactions of tears and joy, and often gave credit for their awards to co-workers.

"Some people have jobs. Some have careers," said Amrhein, administrative secretary with the department of public safety. "Me, I just go to my other home from 8-5."

"When I looked around at the nominees, I thought 'I'm never going to win this award,'" said Lauterbach, a senior psychologist with counseling services. "We're a small, dedicated, hard-working staff who all care about our clients. I share this with you."

"There is so much heart in this room. I'm so glad to be a part of EMU," said Stacey, professor of communication and theatre arts.

Faculty Appreciation Awards also were handed out to Linda Adler-Kassner, English language and literature; Elizabeth Broughton, leadership and counseling; Michelle Byrd, psychology; Michael Chan, occupational therapy; Susan Grossman, teacher education; Yiu Keung Lee, art; Kate Mehuron, history and philosophy; Sandy Norton, English language and liteerature; Karen Paciorek, teacher education; and Christine Tanner, communication and theatre arts.

CAMPUS FIXTURES: (above, from left) David Tammany, professorof fine arts, and Gerald Davis, library-media services, take a moment after the Employee Recognition Awards March 28. Each was honored for providing more than 40 years of service to EMU.

Approximately 205 EMU employees were recognized for their years of service (3,840 years total) to the University at the Human Resources Employee Recognition Awards March 28. The award honors EMU employees who have provided at least 10 years of service to EMU. Barry Avedon, Gerald Davis, Stuart Karabenick and David Tammany were recognized for their 40-year contributions. Another dozen employees received kudos for contributing 35 years of service to the University.

"You are, unmistakably, the backbone of this University," said EMU President John Fallon. "We are thankful for your enthusiasm and dedication."

"This is recognizing more than time spent on the job," said Art Timko, director of WEMU and emcee for the event. "The sum of these total careers is more than any sum of years at the University."

JUNIOR GOLD: Winners of the Student Gold Medallion awards, handed out during a ceremony March 29, pose after the event in the McKenny Union Ballroom.

Student Gold Medallion recipients also were recognized March 28. The awards honor student leaders who have made significant leadership and community service contributions within the Division of Student Affairs, as well as student organizations and student organization advisers who have made a positive impact on the University.

"There's a whole lot of learning that goes on outside the classroom. That's what we're here to celebrate today," said Jim Vick, vice president for student affairs. "What you all have in common is you chose to be engaged in your education. Every one of you is a winner."

"It (this event) let you, the students, know how much we value your efforts," Fallon said.

Those individuals and organizations honored, and their respective categories are: Bottoms Up and Beach Party, Best Hall (student organization program), National Residence Hall Honorary (student organization-affiliated), National Pan-Hellenic Council (student organization-non-affiliated), Noah Borton (student organization adviser), Chris Beyer (outstanding performance by a graduate assistant/graduate student employee), Tanisha Blackmon (student mentor), Jessica Klein (student goodwill ambassador), Michael Haynes (student volunteer), Kelly Basden (student leadership), Amjade Issa (student employee) and Evelyn Benn (outstanding service delivery).

During the Graduate Research Fair award ceremonies March 28,  Melissa Heuker was awarded the Ronald W. Collins Medal for Excellence in scholarly and creative activity and Stephanie Longly won the Gerri Collins Medal for excellence and exemplary service.

Rebecca Aman (oral presenter), and Chaandini Jayachandran (poster presenter) were the recipients of the Sigma Xi Awards. Tammara Stevenson (oral presenter) and Kathy Morris (poster presenter) were winners of the George Brower Scholarship, which is awarded to a College of Education graduate student (s) who received the highest marks for an oral/poster presentation.

Outstanding Graduate Research Fair presenters were Benjamin Philip, Erika Roesler, Christie Routel and Alfreda Rooks-Jordan (oral presentations) and Joan McDowell and the group of Traci East, Lauren Okray, Anna Preiss and Trebecca Sloan (poster presentations).