The 2000-2001 academic year has officially begun with Friday's University Convocation in Louis Armstrong Theatre on the Allendale Campus. Monday brings the first day of classes at all GVSU locations.
Jon Jellema, state representative of the 89th District and former GVSU English professor, delivered the convocation address, titled This Sporting Life. President Arend D. Lubbers, Academic Senate Chair Patrick Thorpe, and Student Senate President Ben Witt spoke on the upcoming school year.
The year also began with the presentation of the annual Outstanding Teacher Award to David Tanis, associate professor of Chemistry and the Distinguished Contribution in Discipline Award to Frances McCrea, professor of Anthropology and Sociology.
Three faculty members mark 25 years of academic service to Grand Valley this year. They include: Gregg K. Dimkoff, professor of Finance and Management; Roger B. Ellis, professor of Communications; and Myron D. Mast, professor of Public and Nonprofit Administration.
The first Pew Teaching Excellence Awards were presented at the convocation, honoring an outstanding teacher in each division and independent school. Recipients include: K. Laurel Balkema, Library; Emily Droste-Bielak, Kirkhof School of Nursing; Lawrence Burns, Social Sciences Division; Helene Noordyk, School of Social Work; Stephanie Schaertel, Science and Mathematics Division; Parvez Sopariwala, Seidman School of Business; Allan Ten Eyck, School of Education; and Phyllis Vandenberg, Arts and Humanities Division.
The Pew Scholar Teacher Awards, given to support teaching innovation and renewal on a broad and imaginative scale were also awarded. The recipients include: Nancy Harper; Donald Williams; Patricia Schafer; Barbara Hooper; Shaily Menon; Maureen Ryan; Xiaojuan Xu; and Richard Paschke
