Graduate student teaching assistants, so rarely honored publicly, were given kudos Friday by UB's Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association.
Thirty students were recognized in the third annual "Excellence in Teaching Awards," held in the Center for the Arts screening room.
"We're here because we made a commitment to teach," said Kerry Grant, dean of the graduate school, who opened the ceremony. "Each person here deserves recognition."
The name of each recognized student was announced individually, accompanied by a quote from one of the professors who nominated him or her.
"I express sincere appreciation on excellence that all award winners deserve," said Monroe Eagles, associate dean for graduate studies in the UB College of Arts and Sciences. Eagles acted as spokesman for Charles Stinger, senior associate dean for the CAS, who was unable to attend due to illness.
"Award winners are only one representing many teaching assistants, but nonetheless more than deserve this recognition," said Eagles.
Elaine Massio was one of the graduate students awarded.
"Humor and perseverance come forward in teaching when Elaine Massio teaches," said one professor, applauding her accomplishments.
One of Massio's students was also quoted.
"She is very approachable and student-friendly, and she helps bring concepts to life and she makes her course material interesting and fun," praised the student's statement.
The GAs were not only judged on creativity in the classroom, but by success in mentoring and challenging students to strive for academic excellence.
"I strongly believe not to teach students every technical thing to know, but to empower them," said Eva Hulse, who received an honorable mention in the ceremony.
To be selected, students had to be full-time graduates formally matriculated in a degree program and must have taught for at least two semesters.
The candidates were selected and nominated by a faculty member in the graduate school and reviewed by the Office of the Dean. To nominate a student, faculty members filled out nomination forms, which included information about a candidate's course and responsibilities. It also included a candidate's transcript, attendance records and a list of participation in teaching-related activities. Once completed, signatures from a teaching supervisor, department chair and academic dean were attached.
Jennifer Randall, an award recipient from the department of anthropology, comes from a family of teachers and said she considers teaching "the most natural task humans participate in."
David Blekhman, a graduate student from Russia who is studying thermophysics, teaches five courses in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering and gave his thanks to a faculty mentor.
"You are my biggest influence and you made a professor out of me," Blekhman said, referring to Michael Ryan, professor of chemical engineering and associate dean for undergraduate education.
"Here at UB we take great pride in providing all students with a high-quality instruction," said Jean Grela, assistant to the dean in the office of the graduate school.
"This is exciting and inspires me to consider the possibility to teach," said Rebecca Lamb, a junior anthropology major who helped Grela organize this event.
Other award winners were: Jennifer Caruso and Elizabeth Santillo from the department of literature; Sergio Pedro from the department of modern languages and literature; Lori Jacobson, Laurie Ousley, Elizabeth Strover and Andrew Sutherland from the department of English; Jennifer Muller from the department of anthropology; Eric Little from the department of philosophy; Andrew Pollard from the department of sociology; Juan Dominguez from the department of psychology; Abigail Semple from the department of geology; Gregory Witkowski from the department of history; John Matyjas from the department of electrical engineering; and Markus Tremmel from the department of mechanical engineering.
"This is a tough competition and unfortunately we are limited to the number of awards given out, even though all deserve it," said Grant.
Honorable mentions were given to students who did not receive an award, but were worthy of distinction. Those students were: Nidal Al-Masoud, Thomas Jordan, Sonja Schwake, Mikko Tuhkanen and Westley Zech.
Zech, who was accompanied by his mother and the professor who nominated him, said he was deeply moved and is inspired to continue bringing forth ambition to the success of others.
Grant closed the ceremony with a quote from Henry Ford. "A teacher affects eternity and she never knows where she starts or where she stops," he said.
