At the 14th annual Crystal Apple awards ceremony on Feb. 25, nine Emory teachers were commended for excellence in teaching. And this year, a new category to award excellence in teaching by a graduate student was introduced based on popular demand.
Crystal Apples honor faculty members who go above and beyond in their search for knowledge and involvement within the Emory community.
Students nominated the recipients of the awards, honored at the entirely student-run event.
And the number of nominations this year doubled from 300 to 600, according to Jessica Simon, vice president of programming for the Residence Hall Association.
The 2013 Crystal Apple honorees are:
Excellence in Graduate School Education—Samiran Banerjee, senior lecturer in economics, Emory College
The Laura Jones Hardman Award for Excellence in Service to the Emory Community—Nancy Bliwise, professor of pedagogy, psychology, Emory College
Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student—Sara Freeman, graduate student in neuroscience, Emory College
Excellence In Professional School Education—Otto Froehlich, associate professor of physiology, School of Medicine (posthumous)
Excellence in Undergraduate Large Class Education—Christopher Gilson, biology instructor, Emory College
Excellence in Undergraduate Seminar Education—Judith Miller, associate professor of history, Emory College
Excellence in Undergraduate Business Education—Christopher Rider, assistant professor of organization and management, Goizueta Business School
The William H. Fox Award for Emerging Excellence—Thomas More Smith, assistant professor in the practice of finance, Goizueta Business School
Excellence in Undergraduate Nursing Education—Deanna Womack, instructor, School of Nursing
Family members for Froehlich, who died unexpectedly last semester, accepted his award.
Guests in attendance included Emory College Dean Robin Forman, Dean of Students Bridget Riordan, Emory trustee Laura Jones Hardman, and retired Emory administrator Bill Fox.
"We hope that each Crystal Apple serves as a reminder as to why [teachers] do what they do, and demonstrates that—although they can't always see it—students care," says Simon. "Their Crystal Apple symbolizes their impact."