Faculty and tutors who have helped Holman Learning Center
make an impact in the lives of Eastern Michigan University
students were honored during the Seventh Annual Faculty
and Tutor Appreciation Day.
In all, 21 individuals, including Holman Learning Center
founder Robert Holman, were honored during a ceremony April
3 in the Student Center Ballroom. The event capped off
EMU's annual Salute to Excellence Week.
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A LITTLE APPRECIATION: From left, Robert
Holman,
founder of Holman Learning Center, poses
with
winners of faculty and tutor appreciation awards.
In
all, 21 awards were handed out during a ceremony
in
the Student Center Ballroom April 3. Holman
was
given a special "Above and Beyond the Call
of Duty
Award" for his dedication to EMU students
through
the years.
|
The program recognizes and rewards faculty and tutors
who have displayed excellent teaching and learning strategies.
The center provides supplemental instruction to students;
tutors for a variety of subjects; offers skill-building
workshops; testing accommodations; and has a first-year
academic support program.
A total of 142 nominations for Faculty and Tutor Appreciation
awards were received this year, an increase from 130 in
2006, said Ellen Gold, director of University Health Services,
and a member of the selection committee.
"We are not only recognizing outstanding faculty and lecturer
tutors, but we are recognizing our students who engaged
and inspired them," Gold said.
Beyond the Call of Duty Awards, the most prestigious bestowed
at the ceremony, went to Maria Sipos (faculty
award), assistant professor in the the interior design
department within the School of Engineering Technology,
and
Pedro Gomez (lecturer award), a lecturer
in foreign languages and bilingual studies. Each received
a plaque and a $750 check.
"The award means a lot to me for it validates all
my teaching and administrative efforts. It is a great honor
to be nominated but, to win, it is a privilege. I am very
grateful to my students for their appreciation and very
proud to be their instructor," Sipos said.
Gomez, too, was touched.
"My students are sometimes too kind. I'm just a teacher,
always looking for a light to guide me through the mist,"
Gomez said. "Sometimes serious, sometimes a clown. Whatever
is necessary to come through. Sometimes I do, sometimes
I don't. It hurts when I don't, then I go on. Someday,
I'll be successful and all of my students will get 99 percent.
Never 100 percent, for I don't believe in perfection. At
times, the student who is able to achieve a 70 percent
is the one who gets closer to perfection. In the end, each
one of my students gets closer to it than I ever will."
Kayleen Mark, a Supplemental Instruction leader, won the
Beyond the Call of Duty Student Award. She received a plaque
and a $500 check.
A new award, called the Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
Award, was given to Robert Holman, who
founded Holman Learning Center.
"This is great, a very tearful moment," said Holman, who
was visibly touched. "I was a student at EMU, not a very
good one. I'd get here at the last moment, left early and
went to work. My heart has always been with the student
because I know how hard it was for me."
In addition, other awards were given to:
Tutor/Supplemental Instruction Leader Awards: Ryan
Broekhuizen,
Outstanding Individual Assignments/Supplemental Instruction;
and Micheal Balke, Supplemental Instruction
Leader.
John Mayernik, College of Arts and Sciences, Outstanding
Lecturer in Supplemental Instruction.
Christine Neufeld, College of Arts and Sciences, Outstanding
Faculty in a Supporting Role.
Yen-Ling Chou-Von Meister, College of Arts and Sciences,
Outstanding Lecturer in a Supporting Role.
Elisabeth Daumer and Christine
Clark, College of Arts
and Sciences, Outstanding Faculty in Classroom Instruction.
Christa Graham, Joseph Lowry and
Thomas Ulch II, College
of Arts and Sciences, Outstanding Lecturer in Classroom
Instruction.
Willie Cupples, College of Education, Outstanding Faculty
in a Supporting Role.
Christopher Robbins, College of Education, Outstanding
Faculty in Classroom Instruction.
Bonnie Miller, College of Health and
Human Services, Outstanding Lecturer in a Supporting Role.
Barbara Walters, College of Health and Human Services,
Outstanding Faculty in Classroom Instruction.
Candace Dorsey, College of Health and Human Services,
Outstanding Lecturer in a Supporting Role.
Darcelle White, College of Technology, Outstanding Faculty
in Classroom Instruction.
James Banfield, College of Technology, Outstanding Lecturer
in Classroom Instruction.
