Outstanding Teaching Award
The Outstanding Teaching Award was established in 2008 by the University Honors Student Association (UHSA). Each spring, the UHSA Executive Board coordinates the voting process to select and to recognize an Honors faculty member for teaching excellence.
Every April, a UHSA subcommittee distributes a complete list of eligible instructors (those who taught in The Honors College the previous spring and fall) and their respective Honors course(s). Honors students are then invited to nominate the instructor they feel is most deserving of the award; each endorsement must be accompanied by a personal statement describing who is being nominated and why the student is supporting that particular professor. The subcommittee meets to count all the entries and to determine who will be the top three candidates. The voting process then begins, the votes are tallied after the deadline (several weeks later), and the winner is presented with a certificate at the Spring Honors Graduation Ceremony. The winner of the Honors Outstanding Teaching Award is determined by Honors College students, and the procedures are coordinated and overseen entirely by UHSA Executive Board members.
Outstanding Teaching Award 2023
Congratulations to Ms. Dawn Russell from the College of Nursing, who is this year’s Honors Outstanding Teaching Award winner! Russell was acknowledged for her excellence as a NURSING 317: Honors Adult Health II instructor and for the exceptional manner in which she mentors and prepares her nursing students in this Junior-level clinical. Megan LaFond, a Human Services Leadership major who represented the University Honors Student Association (UHSA), awarded Ms. Russell with a certificate during the Spring 2024 Honors Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 17.
We also congratulate Dr. Samantha Looker-Koenigs from the Department of English (WRT 110: Honors Composition) and Dr. Kyle Steele from the College of Education and Human Services (HNRS 475: Honors Senior Seminar), this year’s other nominees.
Previous Winners of the Outstanding Teaching Award:
2022 - Dr. Sarinda Taengnoi Siemers
Outstanding Teaching Award 2022
Olivia Nedza, a Biomedical Science major with a minor in Chemistry who served as the President of the University Honors Student Association (UHSA) for 2022-2023, announced the results of the UHSA’s poll via email on May 4.
Congratulations to Dr. Sarinda Taengnoi Siemers, Department of Economics, College of Business, who is this year’s Honors Outstanding Teaching Award winner. Siemers, who was the recipient of this honor in 2017 as well, was nominated for ECONOMICS 208: Honors Principles of Economics, which she taught in fall 2022.
After introducing Professor Siemers and acknowledging fellow nominee Jeffrey Pickron, Department of History, for his HISTORY 216: American Sports History course, Olivia thanked “all of the students who submitted nominations and voted. . . and all the professors who cultivate and practice the ideals of The Honors College!”
Previous Winners of the Outstanding Teaching Award:
2021 - Dr. Richard DCamp
Outstanding Teaching Award 2021
The Executive Board of the University Honors Student Association (UHSA) announced that this year’s recipient is Dr. Richard DCamp (Department of Global Languages and Cultures), who was nominated for HNRS 275Q: Culture Connection.
The UHSA thanks all the students who nominated Honors professors, cast their votes, and participated in the award process. The UHSA also congratulates this year’s other nominee, Dr. Roberta Maguire from the Department of English. Dr. DCamp and Dr. Maguire are retiring from UW Oshkosh after the spring 2022 semester and are both wished much happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead🍾
Andrea Colantonio, double major in Management and Marketing and the 2021-2022 President of the UHSA, presented the Outstanding Teaching Award to Dr. D Camp at the Honors Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 13. Congratulations, Dr. DCamp!
2020 - Dr. Robert Feldman
Outstanding Teaching Award 2020
The University Honors Student Association (UHSA) Executive Board announced that this year’s recipient is Dr. Robert Feldman from the Department of English. He was nominated for English 228: Modern American Literature, the same class for which he won the OTA in 2014.
The certificate was presented by UHSA’s President (now an Honors Alum!) Sarah Opolka at the Spring 2021 Honors Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 14 at Titan Stadium at 4:00. On behalf of the Board, Sarah thanked all students who participated and also congratulated this year’s other nominees, Ms. Abigail Griswold from the College of Nursing and Dr. Michael Baltutis from the Department of Anthropology, Global Religions, and Cultures.
2019 - Dr. Todd Kostman
Outstanding Teaching Award 2019
The votes have been counted, and Dr. Todd Kostman, Associate Professor and Co-Chair in the Department of Biology, is the winner of the 2019 Honors Outstanding Teaching Award.
In a statement released by the University Honors Student Association (UHSA) Board, Dr. Kostman was nominated by Honors students who took Biology 108: Honors Concepts in Biology with him in fall 2019. The Board thanked “all the students who nominated Honors professors and casted their votes. We appreciate your time and involvement in this award process…and [send] very hearty congratulations to Dr. Kostman!”
The Board also congratulated this year’s two other nominees, Dr. Abigail Griswold (Nursing) and Dr. Michael Baltutis (Religious Studies).
Sarah Opolka, UHSA President, presented the award virtually to Dr. Kostman during the Spring 2020 Honors Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 15, at 5:30.
2018 - Dr. Don Dingledine
Outstanding Teaching Award 2018
Rachel Christopherson and Autumn Dunsmore, Co-Presidents of the University Honors Student Association (UHSA), announced on May 13 that Dr. Don Dingledine (Department of English) is the winner of the 2018 Outstanding Teaching Award.
Dingledine began teaching Honors classes in 2006, including the Honors Core (HNRS 175: Honors Seminar, HNRS 275: Culture Connection, and HNRS 475: Honors Senior Seminar) as well as Honors composition and literature classes (ENG 110: The Civil War and ENG 229: Honors African American Literature). He recently concluded three three-year terms as a member of the University Honors Council, the governing body of The Honors College.
Christopherson and Dunsmore read excerpts from students’ endorsements and presented Dingledine with the Outstanding Teaching Award, his fourth, at the Spring 2019 Honors Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 17, 2019 at the Culver Family Welcome Center. They acknowledged the many Honors students who nominated their professors, composed endorsements, and took part in the voting process. They then congratulated this year’s two other finalists, Mr. Courtney Bauder of the Social Justice Program and Mr. Craig Clifford of the Art Department, who were nominated for HNRS 175 and Art 115, respectively.
Rachel Christopherson (Biology; minor in Spanish), left, and Autumn Dunsmore (Economics and Finance), right, with Dr. Dingledine. (Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.)
2017 - Dr. Sarinda Taengnoi Siemers
Congratulations to Dr. Sarinda Taengnoi Siemers, recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. Siemers, Associate Professor of Economics, taught Economics 208: Honors Intro to Microeconomics and HNRS 175: Honors Seminar in Education, which she co-taught with her husband, Professor Dave Siemers from the Political Science Department.
Also nominated were Dr. Don Dingledine from the Department of English and Dr. Misty McPhee from the Department of Biology and Environmental Studies.
Rachel Christopherson, Biology and Chemistry major (pictured left), and Autumn Dunsmore, Economics and Finance major (right), Co-Presidents of the University Honors Student Association, presented Professor Siemers with the Outstanding Teaching Award at the Spring 2018 Honors Graduation Ceremony on May 9:
(Photo courtesy of Limelite Studios)
2016 - Mr. Courtney Bauder
Courtney Bauder (Social Justice Program) was recognized for HNRS 475: Honors Senior Seminar in Global Studies, a Senior Capstone course he has taught since 2014.
Former UHSA Executive Board member Ryan Taylor presented the award at the Spring 2017 Honors Graduation Ceremony, which was held at the Alumni Welcome & Conference Center on May 8, 2017.
Also nominated this year were Laura Jean Baker and Cary Henson, both from the Department of English.
(Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.)
2015 - Dr. Pascale Manning
Dr. Pascale Manning (Department of English), the winner of the Outstanding Teaching Award 2015, was recognized for excellence in teaching English 310: Honors Advanced Composition, the same course for which she was nominated in 2014.
UHSA Executive Board Treasurer Natalya Mudry read endorsements and presented the award at the Spring 2016 Honors Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday, May 11, at the Alumni Welcome & Conference Center. Also nominated were Dr. Julia Chybowski (Department of Music) and Dr. Paul Klemp (Department of English).
(Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.)
2014 - Dr. Robert Feldman
Dr. Robert Feldman (Department of English), the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award 2014, was nominated for ENGLISH 228: Modern American Literature, an Honors course he has taught since 1999.
Dana Giannelli, University Honors Student Association Board member and Elementary Education major, presented the award at the Spring 2015 Honors Graduation Ceremony on May 11, 2015, at the Alumni Welcome & Conference Center.
Also nominated this year were Dr. Shelly Michalski (Department of Biology) for BIOLOGY 108 and Dr. Pascale Manning (Department of English) for ENGLISH 310.
(Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.)
2013 - Dr. Don Dingledine
Dr. Don Dingledine (Department of English) was the recipient of the 2013 Outstanding Teaching Award. We extend congratulations to Dr. Dingledine and to his fellow nominees, Dr. Robert Feldman (English 228: Honors Modern American Literature) and Dr. Paul Klemp (HNRS 175: Seminar). All are members of the Department of English.
Dingledine was nominated for ENGLISH 229: Honors African American Literature and for HNRS 275: Culture Connection.
(Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.)
The announcement was made by UHSA Executive Board members Shane Conner (double major in Economics and English) and Melanie Debish (Nursing), pictured here presenting the award at the Spring 2014 Honors Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday, May 13.
2012 - Dr. Don Dingledine
Dr. Don Dingledine, who has been teaching in the Department of English at UW Oshkosh since 2000, joined the Honors faculty in 2006. He also serves on the Honors Council. His courses include English 110: Honors Composition, English 229: Honors African American Literature, Honors 175; Honors Seminar, and HNRS 475: Honors Senior Seminar. He was nominated for HNRS 275: Culture Connection.
Congratulations to Dr. Dingledine’s fellow nominees, Mr. Cary Henson and Dr. Paul Klemp, also from the Department of English.
This is the second time Dr. Dingledine has been honored with this award.
(Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.)
Don Dingledine with Shane Conner (double major in Economics and English) and Alyssa Brunner (English major; minor in Journalism), who presented the award at the Spring 2013 Honors Graduation Ceremony on May 6.
2011 - Dr. Susan McFadden
The winner of the Honors Outstanding Teaching Award for 2011 was Dr. Susan McFadden of the Psychology Department.
Dr. McFadden taught a wide range of Honors courses over the years, including Honors 175, Honors 271 and 272, Honors 475, and Psychology 104: Honors Introduction to Psychology. She has also assisted with numerous Honors Thesis projects.
Two members of the UHSA, Alyssa Brunner and Shane Conner, presented the award during the Spring 2012 Honors Graduation Ceremony. Because she was at a conference and unable to attend that event, Dr. McFadden was presented with the award later that week at the African American Studies Minor Ceremony.
Also on the ballot this year were Dr. Michael Baltutis (Religious Studies) and Dr. Jennifer Considine (Communication).
Dr. McFadden retired from UW Oshkosh in Spring 2012.
2010 - Dr. Don Dingledine
The winner of the 2010 Honors Outstanding Teaching Award was Dr. Don Dingledine of the Department of English.
Dingledine’s Honors courses include English 110: Honors Composition, English 229: African American Literature, HNRS 175: Honors Seminar, HNRS 275: Culture Connection, and HNRS 475: Honors Senior Seminar. He has also served on the Honors Council since 2007.
Also nominated this year were Dr. Susan McFadden (Psychology) and Dr. Caryn Murphy (Communication).
(Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.)
Two members of the University Honors Student Association Teaching Award Committee, Nursing major Patience Krahn (right) and Biology major Ashley Stocker (left), read students’ endorsements and presented the award to Dr. Dingledine at the Spring 2011 Honors Graduation Ceremony on May 9.
2009 - Dr. Laurence Carlin
Dr. Laurence Carlin of the Philosophy Department won the Honors Outstanding Teaching Award for 2009.
At the time he won this award, Dr. Carlin’s Honors courses include the HNRS 175: Honors Seminar, Philosophy 110: Intro to Philosophy, and Culture Connection. A longtime Honors Council member, Carlin has also served as an Honors Thesis advisor and as an instructor at Honors recruitment events.
(Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.)
Chancellor Richard Wells presented Dr. Carlin with the award at the Spring 2010 Honors Graduation Ceremony on May 10.
2008 - Dr. Bill Mode
Dr. Bill Mode of the Geology Department won the first-ever Outstanding Teaching Award in 2008. Dr. Mode was nominated for his Geology 110: Honors Geology course, which he continues to teach with exceptional expertise every spring!
Dr. Mode, with fellow nominees Dr. Larry Carlin (Philosophy) and Dr. Steve Szydlik (Mathematics), accepted the award at the UHP Faculty Workshop on June 2, 2009.