Certificate of Merit Awards-2007


 

Nancy Benson, Outstanding Faculty

Professor Nancy Benson is an associate professor in the Department of Journalism. Since joining the University, she has taught every course required for broadcast journalism majors. Professor Benson developed a program that took ten students to China in 2007 and to Peru in 2005 to train them as international correspondents. She provided leadership, instruction, support and guidance to the students. The student's final products were aired on a two-hour radio news documentary that was broadcast on WILL-AM 580. One nominator states, "Professor Benson motivates her students to strive for excellence as professional broadcasters. She makes them bolder and, therefore, better journalists. She gives them a glimpse of what is possible and moves them out of the realm of the mundane. She gives our department important credibility that we could not get anywhere else."		 Nancy Benson


Wayne Banwart, Outstanding Faculty

Dean Wayne Banwart is an Associate Dean of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Academic Program. He is known across the ACES campus for his dedication to students, leadership and administrative oversight. He serves as the College's liaison to the Graduate College on matters of academic policy and programs; represents the College on academic policy at the campus, state, regional, national, and international levels; supervises personnel and administers budgetary and fiscal matters in the Office of Academic Programs; leads programs that recognize excellence in teaching and provides teaching improvement opportunities for faculty, instructors, and teaching assistants such as the ACES Teaching College, Teaching Academy, and teaching improvement workshops. One nominator states, "I truly admire Dean Banwart and give him my utmost respect. It is my absolute privilege to present this nomination of a man who deserves only the best, because it is the very least I can do for a man who has given his absolute best to me, the University of Illinois, and the world." 		Wayne Banwart


Emily Ward, Outstanding Student

Emily Ward is senior seeking a dual degree in Advertising and Speech Communications with a minor in African-American Studies. She has been involved in the Illini Media Center for the Illio Yearbook and WPGU, Junior Main Street project, St. John's Lutheran Church Sunday School, Orange Krush, and the American Advertising Federation; worked at the Illini Media Center, currently works at the Campus Visitor's Center during the school year and was an I-Start guide throughout the summer. She was awarded the most enthusiastic tour guide by the Campus Visitor's Center and was on the Dean's List for fall 2006 and spring 2007.
Emily Ward


Student Advancement Group for Education, Outstanding Student Organization

Student Advancement Group for Education (SAGE) works to advance the mission of the College of Education here at U of I by assisting with activities and events that bring together students, faculty, alumni, donors, and friends of the College. SAGE has selflessly utilized award money to donate books to schools through a program called the Library Book Drive. This program's members raise money to buy books for local, in need library programs. As a result of the efforts over this last year, SAGE was able to donate books to more than 30 deserving schools in Illinois. SAGE members also volunteer for other activities throughout the school year.

Student Advancement Group for Education

SAGE Members 2007


Andrea Ray, Outstanding Staff

Andrea Ray has been with the Institute of Communications Research (ICR) since January 2006. She provides secretarial and technical support to the faculty and students of the ICR, the ICR Director, and the Media Studies program. Her calm, cheerful attitude makes her an indispensable member of her department.

Andrea’s extensive knowledge of campus policies, procedures, structure, facilities, administrative and service units allow her to assist students and faculty in need. She approaches her job using innovative processes and streamlining procedures in order to make information more accessible. She has reorganized operations, established constructive practices and created new ways of handling information, people, and questions that have made the unit far more productive.

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Andrea ray