April 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 3
News
Two Beaver faculty members honored Robin Bower, Karen Barr rewarded by university for excellence in teaching Monica M. Pitcher Staff Writer
mmp5317@psu.edu
Each year, Penn State recognizes a select number of its faculty members from all over the system for their hard work, dedication and teaching ability. Two members of Penn State Beaver’s faculty will each be receiving prestigious University-wide teaching awards this spring. Robin Bower, associate professor of Spanish, is the recipient of the 2011-12 Milton S. Eisenhower award for Distinguished Teaching. This award is given to only two faculty members within the Penn State system. This award recognizes excellence in teaching and student support among full-time faculty members with at least five years’ experience
Robin Bower
Karen Barr
teaching undergraduates. Bower has captivated her students within the Spanish language, including those first being exposed to the language to converse in it. “My astonishment is matched only by my gratitude to my stu-
dents and colleagues and to the wonderful staff that supports us,” Bower said. Karen Barr, senior instructor in business, is the recipient of the 2011-12 George W. Atherton award for Excellence in Teaching.
This award is given to six faculty members across the Penn State system. The award, named after Penn State’s seventh president, honors excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. According to Donna Kuga, director of academic affairs, Barr earns high marks on student evaluations, especially with the clarity of her presentations, her passion for teaching and her willingness to help students. “I love teaching, advising and providing service to the campus because I hope it ultimately impacts students in a positive way,” Barr said. “I receive great satisfaction when a student says ‘thanks for helping me.’ Receiving the Atherton Award is a very humbling experience, and I am very proud to represent Penn State Beaver in this
capacity.” Kuga said it’s impressive to have both faculty receive recognition in the same year. “These awards represent excellence in teaching, and both Dr. Bower and Ms. Barr are wonderful examples of faculty who provide high quality instruction,” Kuga said. “I am very proud that our campus received two of the eight awards this year, and it is a significant indicator of the quality of faculty that we have at our campus.” The recognition indicates that Bower and Barr are “among the very best of the teaching faculty across the University,” said Chancellor Gary Keefer. “To have two of our faculty win these awards in the same year is an indication of the overall strength of our campus faculty,” Keefer added.
Students, faculty, staff receive awards at banquet From Staff Reports
Penn State Beaver awarded junior Steve Dusicsko with its highest student honor, the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, at its annual awards banquet held April 15. The award, named in honor of the late Penn State President Eric Walker and his wife, Josephine, recognizes one student at each campus each year for outstanding character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Dusicsko is a business major and is active in numerous organizations on campus. He has been the Student Government Association treasurer for three years, is president of the Business Club, a member of the Blue and White Society and has served for two years on the Facility Fee committee and two years on the BeaverFest committee. In addition, sophomore Darlene
Coulanges was named the Outstanding Student of the Year. Coulanges is a health and human development major and a resident assistant. She’s a member of SGA, serving on the StudentFaculty Relations and Campus Climate and Diversity committees, and is a member of the Thon committee. Numerous other students, faculty and staff were honored. Recipients of student academic awards were: n Seniors Katie Carugati, business; Valerie Cycholl, Information Sciences and Technology design and development; Rachelle Eidenmiller, criminal justice; Roger Garza, IST; Steven Kimmick, administration of justice (AOJ); Sarah Klesser, management/marketing; Julie Leeper, communications. n Juniors Andrew Searight, IST
integration; Megan Sovich, psychology; Christine Walzak, psychology. n Sophomores Ahad Anjum, biology; Garrett Covalt, electrical engineering and mathematics; Abagail Filippi, childhood and early adolescent education; Lydia Moon, communication sciences and disorders; Dalton Petrillo, mechanical engineering; Shawna Shelton, crime, law and justice; Ashley Thompson, advertising/public relations. n Freshman Nicholas Anderegg, computer science. The President’s Freshman Award was presented to Megan Brown, Shelby Carver, Cathleen Gillette, Ashley VallesArmand and Adrijana Vukelic. College Honors Program Certificates were awarded to sophomores Jaimes Coelho, Christine Corriani, Andrew DiPietrantonio, Gretchen
Lecrone, Moon, Petrillo, Zachary Prawucki and Brianna Tolliver. Campus Honors Certificates went to seniors Cycholl, Sean Dickey and Taylor Jaros. Student Life Awards were given to sophomores Darlene Coulanges and Amanda Palombo and juniors Michelle Beckman and Craig Oskin. Garza received the Adult Achievement Award. Coulanges and Moon received USA Today Newspaper Leadership Awards. Seven faculty and staff members were honored for teaching, advising or service. n Advisory Board/Andrews Industrial Controls Inc. Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award: Kevin Bennett, instructor in psychology. n Advisory Board/ESB Bank Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award: Kristin Oberg, lecturer in English.
n Advisory Board/Michael Baker Corporation Faculty Excellence in Research Award: Mari Pierce, assistant professor of administration of justice. n Advisory Board/NOVA Chemicals Inc. Faculty Excellence in Service Award: Pierce. n Advisory Board/C3 Controls Staff Excellence Award: Gretchen Samchuck, Division of Undergraduate Studies Advising Coordinator. n Advisory Board/Value Ambridge Properties Staff Service Award: Denise Turyan, staff assistant, Student Affairs. n Student Government Association Outstanding Organization Adviser: Chris Rizzo, director of student affairs and Student Government Association adviser. n SGA Outstanding Academic Adviser: Cassandra Miller-Butterworth, assistant professor of biology.