Since 1919

The Prairie News

Since 1919

The Prairie News

Since 1919

The Prairie News

WTAMU sweeps Teaching Excellence Awards

Courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
Courtesy of Shutterstock.com.

WTAMU has long been recognized as a great place to get an education. This year, students’ feedback at semester evaluations was able to select 80 faculty members for the A&M System Teaching Excellence Awards.

 

Selected by The Texas A&M University System, over 250 recipients were awarded $697,500. WT bested the sys•tem’s 10 other campuses, with 80 outstanding faculty members recognized.

One of this year’s recipients is David Horsley, professor of freshman English composition. This is his first time being recognized.

“What makes me proud is the fact that my students themselves chose me for this honor,” Horsley said. “That’s a nice feeling.”

Horsley said that WT gives him unique teaching opportunities.

“I like teaching here because of the freedom I’m given to teach in whatever way seems most effective with a particular class of students,” he said. “I don’t have to teach the same way to every class, so I modify the lessons to custom-fit each class.”

Another one of WT’s honorees is Paula Schlegel, instructor of Communication Studies. She was previously honored in 2007-2008 with a Faculty Excellence Award from the Col•lege of Fine Arts and Humanities.

Schlegel said that she considers WT to be a great place to teach.

“I love WT because the faculty and staff care about the students’ success,” she said.

Students’ comments and critiques on the end-of-year professor evaluations determine the faculty who are honored. It’s not surprising that both Horsley and Schlegel were quick to commend their hardworking students.

“My students are special in the same way that everyone’s students are special: each one is a unique individual with strengths and weaknesses,” said Horsley. “We try to build on the strengths and turn the weaknesses into strengths.”
Schlegel noted she feels inspired by her students to stretch her comfort zone.

“They remind me that the process of doing something new and often intimidating is rewarding,” she said. “They also remind me to have fun.”

Both Horsley and Schlegel felt grateful for the acknowledgment.

“It is an honor to be recog•nized for doing something I am passionate about,” Paula said. “I work hard to personalize the information I teach in my courses in ways that students can apply to their personal and professional lives.”

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