Teacher Mary Ann Rintoul accepts her award from vice dean, Dan Syrotuik at last week's celebration of excellence
Excellence has more than one face. Once a year, the Faculty celebrates the many facets of the outstanding work of faculty, staff and graduate students.
On May 17 the Faculty recognized the outstanding contributions of leaders in teaching, research, coaching and service across the faculty at its annual awards celebration.
Coaching Excellence Award
This year's coaching award went to Owen Dawkins, head coach of the Golden Bears and Pandas wrestling teams. Dawkins is an acknowledged leader in his sport both on campus and nationally and won both CIS and Canada West Coach of the Year awards in 2010/11.
He's also renowned as an outstanding builder of athletes and teams, and an excellent recruiter of top athletes. Under his leadership Bears and Pandas wrestlers won five CIS medals: two silver, one bronze, and Pandas wrestlers won the 2011 Junior National Club Championships. Five of his athletes will compete for Canada at the Junior Pan American and World Championships this summer.
Research Excellence Award
Dr. Tanya Berry's year of runaway success garnered the outstanding research award. Berry, whose research program focuses on physical activity messaging, was recognized with Canada's highest honour for a researcher, a Canada Research Chair.
Berry enjoyed an impressive year as a researcher, producing three, first-author publications in highly-regarded journals in health promotion, health psychology and obesity, six co-authored publications with colleagues, with five manuscripts submitted (four of which as first author) and accepted for publication. Two, first-author manuscripts were submitted and are under review. In addition Berry made six oral or poster conference presentations (three as the presenting author). Three of these were delivered at two prestigious international conferences in the United States and Italy.
An outstanding researcher whose work is recognized internationally, Berry oversees seven on-going grants from SSHRC, CIHR, AHFMR and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator.
Teaching Excellence Awards
The Faculty's outstanding teaching award went to Dr. Darren DeLorey whose first year course in physiology - a required course for first year students - elicited high praise from his students.
Students said, "Dr. DeLorey is the best teacher I have ever had. He explains concepts thoroughly, his notes are excellent and his tests are fair and challenging," and, "Dr. D is an awesome professor! Keeps class attention through class discussion. (He provides) easy to follow notes; explains concepts in a way everyone can understand." There were plenty more attesting to his ability to engage the students in a complex subject and bring it within their understanding using humour - and profound understanding of his subject.
The Faculty's teaching award recognizing outstanding teaching by a contract academic educator was awarded to Mary Ann Rintoul, an outstanding educator in physical activity for children, gymnastics and rhythmic activities who has taught in the Faculty for 26 years. Rintoul is also the manager for the Play Around the World program, preparing and sending student groups to Thailand and Cambodia.
Students had high praise for Rintoul: "I'm finding light bulbs clicking on for me during class. Things I didn't 'get' from the textbook suddenly make sense and I say to myself, 'My god, she's brilliant!'" said one student. Another wrote: "Mary Ann is one of the most energetic teachers I have ever had. She combined fun and activity with in-depth and comprehensive learning perfectly. She taught me not only about physical education, but also how to be a great teacher."
Graduate student teaching awards, which are awarded by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, went to Nicole Glenn, Bethan Kingsley and Michael Nelson.
Outstanding Service and Administration Award
Two were awarded this year, one to financial supervisor Anna Minarchi and the second to Athletics' associate director Katie Spriggs. Minarchi was cited for her efficiency, knowledge, helpfulness and collegiality in addressing the countless financial queries and demands that arise.
Her nominators said, "It is clear that Anna takes great pride in the work she does and will go to great lengths to uncover problems and resolve them." Minarchi was also praised for her work helping the students and managers of the Play Around the World program to manage their finances effectively.
Fellow nominee, Katie Spriggs was applauded for her outstanding management and people skills in the smooth administration of the Golden Bears and Pandas' scholarships and awards program. Nominators were impressed by Spriggs's enthusiasm, professionalism, collegiality and commitment to service beyond campus, serving on Canada West and CIS committees, including the CIS Finance Committee and the Athletic Financial Awards Committee as a respected and sought-after contributor.
The final award was the newly-renamed Dr. Dan Syrotuik Core Values Award - so named in honour of Vice Dean Dan Syrotuik's exceptional service to the faculty over a long career as teacher, researcher, coach, administrator and mentor. The award was presented to acting associate dean, Undergraduate Programs, Pierre Baudin.
Baudin's efforts span all units of the faculty and he was particularly praised for being a coach and mentor for the new Pandas Volleyball Club, of which he is also director of coaching. He's spent many hours, mentoring coaches and athletes, offering his support and expertise to this fledgling group.
An award-winning teacher, Baudin is a passionate educator, who shares his teaching expertise in skills analysis and biomechanics with others, to help them improve their own teaching.
Additionally, Baudin has willingly shouldered much committee work and stepped into the role of associate dean, undergraduate programs, where he has worked vigorously to ensure that this busy role continued to be effective and efficient.
He has also been deeply involved in the review of the BARST program, the PAC task force appraisal and the development of an embedded athlete health certificate.
Certainly this has been another outstanding year for faculty and staff across the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. Congratulations to all award winners!