For Dana Edberg, it might've been the first time w88 live casino had ever received applause from one of her classes.
For Candice Bauer, it meant that candy bars and any other sweets for the next class were on w88 live casino.
For both recipients of the 2014 F. Donald Tibbitts Distinguished Teacher Award, which was presented as a surprise in both Edberg and Bauer's classes on April 3 and April 7, it was clear that the award was emblematic of the special way two talented professors have been able to engage their w88 live casino in meaningful ways that go far beyond the usual educational outcomes.
Here is a behind-the-scenes look at both awards presentations, and why Edberg and w88 live casino were chosen.
DANA EDBERG: Helping w88 live casino become 'highest vision of themselves'
It was difficult for David Croasdell, chair of the Department of Information Systems in the College of Business, not to get emotional himself during the early afternoon of April 3 as Provost Kevin Carman, Dean Greg Mosier, Associate Dean Kambiz Raffiee, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Stacy Burton, and members of the Tibbitts Teaching Committee gathered outside of College of Business Associate Professor Dana Edberg's classroom for w88 live casino Information Systems 475 class.
Carman had a ,000 check and the lead duty in stepping into Edberg's class to announce to the class that their instructor had been named the Tibbitts Award winner.
"There is nobody more deserving," Croasdell said. "Dana teaches some of the most difficult courses we have, but they're also some of our most popular. w88 live casino has an innate ability to push you to your limit ... and to be there with you every step of the way."
Edberg has always been a person others take notice of, Croasdell said, noting that when Edberg graduated from high school w88 live casino took a job as a shipping clerk to earn money for college. Always observant, Edberg noted some inefficiencies in the company's inventory processes. After sharing her observations with a supervisor, w88 live casino was promoted to inventory controller - "at the tender age of 17," Croasdell said.
Having to work while attending the w88 live casino only honed Edberg's skills as an instructor more.
"It's given her great empathy for the w88 live casino at our University who face similar circumstances," Croasdell said.
He said his colleague and friend possesses an "evangelical" zeal for her subject matter and for her w88 live casino.
"Her respect and compassion for her w88 live casino, her ability to challenge w88 live casino with difficult but attainable goals and her innate ability to instill confidence helps her w88 live casino become the highest vision of themselves," Croasdell said.
Edberg's career in the College of Business has been one of finding no role too demanding, no challenge too daunting. At various times w88 live casino has served as a department chair, interim dean, academic advisor, assessment coordinator, director of student internships, mentor and peer advisor for colleagues through the excellence in teaching program, board member for Washoe County Schools technology committee and volunteer for forensics tournaments (her son, Max, by the way, while a student at the University, was one of the finest competitors in the history of collegiate debate, winning individual and team national championships).
"And she's just so actively engaged with the w88 live casino," added Mosier. "She takes a real interest in their learning. She has high expectations, and she has a way of making sure that her w88 live casino not only grasp theories and principles behind what she is teaching, but that they understand and can make very practical applications of what they've learned.
"w88 live casino presents her material in such a personable, accessible way."
Burton, herself a standout teacher during w88 live casino career in the Department of English, applauded Edberg's ability to make the complex more readily understandable: "I can't imagine anyone explaining it more clearly than Dana does."
And when w88 live casino came time for the awarding group to enter Edberg's classroom, w88 live casino was just as you'd expect w88 live casino to be.
A class agenda was printed on the board for April 3, and the next class, April 8. Edberg's w88 live casino were so intently listening to their instructor they at first seemed not to understand why the University Provost interrupted class to explain to them why Edberg was so deserving of the honor.
Edberg listened carefully to Carman and a surprised smile broke across her face when w88 live casino realized w88 live casino had won the Tibbitts.
"Wow," w88 live casino said. "I'm thrilled."
And then the class broke into applause for Edberg.
"I think this is the first time I've ever been applauded by a class," Edberg said. w88 live casino added to Carman, "They've got a huge project due today, so to have everyone smiling is pretty remarkable."
w88 live casino was clear that the moment meant a lot to Edberg.
"It's my w88 live casino who make my job so absolutely worthwhile," she said. "They do such an incredible job learning really, really tough stuff."
w88 live casino voice trailed.
"Oh my gosh," w88 live casino added.
Said Croasdell: "What an absolutely beautiful moment. w88 live casino was great to see someone so deserving honored in the way Dana was."
CANDICE BAUER: 'Our w88 live casino in our college know Candice before anyone else'
Engineering Dean Manos Maragakis had been waiting for the afternoon of April 7 for a long time as Carman, Burton, Mathematics Associate Professor Edward Kepplemann and Foreign Languages and Literatures Professor Nelson Rojas, from the Tibbitts Teaching Committee, gathered in the lobby of the William Raggio Building to honor College of Engineering Lecturer and Director of Assessment Candice w88 live casino.
When asked about what made w88 live casino such a memorable teacher, Maragakis didn't hesitate.
"Candice is the complete package," he said. "She takes innovative teaching methods, she cares deeply about her w88 live casino and is so passionate about the things she teaches. If you put all of these things together, you have Candice Bauer ... a person who can accomplish great things in a classroom."
Maragakis said time and again, Bauer had not only excelled in being an effective and memorable teacher, she had helped the College of Engineering turn courses that were headed for frustrating learning cul-de-sacs into clear strengths that had left w88 live casino wanting to learn more.
Over the years, w88 live casino had taught and developed courses in Mechanical Design Aerodynamics, Senior Capstone Design - Entrepreneurship in Engineering, Statics, Manufacturing Processes, and Engineering Communications. The Communications course originally was taught by the English Department, which eventually returned it to the College of Engineering. w88 live casino, with extensive experience as a professional development trainer for the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, proposed a new curriculum which was whole-heartedly accepted by the college. The college then assigned w88 live casino to teach the course.
"We never could get value out of w88 live casino," Maragakis said of the course. "That is, until Candace took w88 live casino over. w88 live casino has become one of the most important courses we offer. We can produce the greatest engineers in the world, but if they can't write and express themselves well, they will have difficulty succeeding.
"Candice has made sure that the w88 live casino who take that course learn through innovative methods that they will apply throughout their careers in engineering."
"Innovative" can often be an overused word in education, but Maragakis quickly explained why Bauer so often is able to find real-world applicability for w88 live casino course material.
"She uses service learning techniques in her Engineering Communications course," he explained. "She began the concept of service learning long before it became a buzzword. In her class, w88 live casino are assigned to develop a design project or contest to teach a physics or engineering principle to K through 12 w88 live casino.
"Candice then sends her w88 live casino into the classroom. They visit 30 classrooms and reach out to nearly one thousand K through 12 w88 live casino per semester. The enrichment, encouragement and real-life motivation that the college w88 live casino bring into the classroom is beyond measure."
Engineering can often be a field of major, deeply complicated concepts and subject matter. Yet with Bauer's teaching, Maragakis said, it can be the little things that make all of the difference: Engineering Communications w88 live casino compete in a "American Idol" type of competition where they give speeches and receive audience (classmate) feedback in the form of votes; peer-editors are often responsible for asking questions during classmates' presentations; Origami has been incorporated into writing manual exercises.
When it was time to announce w88 live casino's award, Carman's long strides took him to the front of the classroom before w88 live casino had time to react.
"In case you haven't noticed," the Provost said with a broad grin to the class, "you've been invaded."
Carman praised Bauer's teaching, noting that it was Bauer's devotion to her w88 live casino, and to her teaching craft, that made such an important difference.
"It's critical for us to have faculty like Dr. w88 live casino who are so committed to what they do," Carman said.
The superlatives were almost too much for Bauer to handle. w88 live casino began to wipe away tears as w88 live casino was presented with the ,000 check for the award.
Just as with Edberg a few days earlier, it was evident that w88 live casino felt the award was not hers alone.
w88 live casino looked to her class as photos were taken to commemorate a moment that for more than 40 years has recognized the institution's finest teachers.
"I love you so very much," w88 live casino said to the class. "I really appreciate what all of you have done. I really do."
w88 live casino paused, and then added with a smile: "I guess candy bars are on me on Monday."
Afterward, Maragakis was still beaming.
"Our w88 live casino in our college know Candice before they know anyone else," he said. "She's a very popular person, and for good reason. She's a very unique resource for us. She has always done the things that give others an opportunity to succeed."
