Recognition of faculty and tutors who have helped Holman Learning Center make a difference in the lives of students served as the finale to Eastern Michigan University's annual Salute to Excellence Week. In all, 17 individuals were honored by Holman Learning Center at its Fifth Annual Faculty and Tutor Appreciation Day.
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.
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STUDENT HELPERS: Winners of Holman Learning
Center faculty and tutor appreciation awards are all
smiles after a ceremony April 4 in the McKenny Union
Ballroom. In all, 17 awards were handed out at the
fifth annual event. EMU alumnus Robert Holman (far
left), namesake for Holman Learning Center, and
Margaret Carter, interim director of the center (second
from right) flank the group. |
A total of 157 nominations were received this year, an increase from just 114 in 2004, said Margaret Carter, interim director of Holman Learning Center.
"This event speaks so well as to who you are," said EMU President Craig Willis to Robert Holman, Holman Learning Center's namesake and EMU alumnus.
Heather Neff, professor of English language and literature, was the recipient of a "Call of Duty" award and also was a presenter who thanked her middle-school Latin tutor.
"Little stories encapsulate big things that I want to say," said Neff, as she described how she was once an eighth-grade student doing poorly in her Latin class and how the patience and kindness of her tutor made a big difference in her life.
Of course, the fact that she passed wasn't as important as how, Neff said. Her tutor had given her an old standardized test from which to study. The next day, to Neff's surprise, her teacher handed out the same test in class. She aced it and passed to the next grade.
"That tutor really made a difference for me. Without a tutor, I wouldn't have had a shot at passing the class," Neff said.
Throughout the awards program, the recipients were described with various accolades, including having unending patience; possessing great organizational skills; effectively delivering lectures; genuinely caring for students inside and outside of the classroom; and making the classroom subject come alive.
One nominator wrote, "Just knowing that one person has confidence in me, even when I had no confidence in myself, has helped me to continue going to class."
All winners received a certificate. The Beyond the Call of Duty recipients also each received $750 to attend a professional conference. The Call of Duty Awards are the highest honor presented by the Holman Center to an individual faculty member, lecturer, tutor or supplemental instruction leader.
In addition to Neff, Beyond the Call of Duty awards were given to:
Kelly Victor-Burke, lecturer in the geography department, College of Arts and Sciences; and
Nicole Dwojak, student supplemental instruction leader.
Faculty Awards were given to:
Rita Chattopadhyay, College of Arts and Sciences (Outstanding Faculty in Supplemental Instruction);
Denise Reiling, College of Arts and Sciences (Outstanding Faculty In a Supporting Role);
Michael Williams, College of Health and Human Services (Outstanding Faculty in a Supporting Role);
Vijaykumar Mannari, College of Technology (Outstanding Faculty in Classroom Instruction);
Steven Benninghoff, College of Arts and Sciences (Outstanding Faculty in Classroom Instruction);
Melvin Peters, College of Arts and Sciences (Outstanding Faculty in Classroom Instruction);
Stevan Mrdalj, College of Business (Outstanding Faculty in Classroom Instruction); and
Martha Kinney-Sedwick, College of Education (Outstanding Faculty in Classroom Instruction).
Lecturer Awards went to:
Thomas Ulch II, College of Arts and Sciences (Outstanding Lecturer in a Supporting Role);
Cecilia Infante, College of Arts and Sciences (Outstanding Lecturer in Classroom Instruction);
Jay Hester, College of Arts and Sciences (Outstanding Lecturer in Classroom Instruction); and
Susan Schanne, College of Business (Outstanding Lecturer in Classroom Instruction).
Tutor and Supplemental Instruction Leader Awards were given to:
Lindsay Goodwin, student (Outstanding Individual Tutor); and
Megan Myers, student (Outstanding Supplemental Instruction Leader).
In addition, the center's staff, Maegon Smith and Huruy Yohannes, received Superior Service awards. Staffers Bianca Houston and Romona Williams received Outstanding Outreach awards.
