Fall Convocation

2008 Convocation Awards


Student Employee of the Year Award

The Student Employee of the Year Award recognizes exemplary student employment service. Students are nominated by their supervisor. Selection criteria include length of time in the job, reliability, quality of work, professionalism, initiative, and especially, unique contribution to a department of the University.

  • Mary Grace Loftin

Appalachian Staff Award

The Appalachian Staff Award is open to all career staff employees who have worked at Appalachian at least two years. Awards are based on the recipient's contributions in the areas of dedication and service to the University, innovation, human relations, or safety and heroism.

  • Larry B. Cornelison, WASU
  • Susan M. Musilli, Language Reading and Exceptionalities
  • Don R. Rankins, Registrar's
  • Dean A. Williams, Belk Library

Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award

The Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award celebrates a graduate faculty member who has made significant contributions to graduate education at Appalachian in the preceding year. The award recognizes an individual who is an active and productive scholar in the appropriate discipline, an outstanding research and professional mentor to graduate students, a superb teacher in the graduate classroom, and a major participant in programs that support graduate education across the campus.

Harvey R. Durham Award

The Harvey R. Durham Outstanding Freshman Advocate Award honors a full-time university employee who has contributed significantly to improving the freshman experience on campus. It is awarded based on the recipient's extraordinary personal commitment to freshmen, effective exemplary instruction in freshman-level classes, sustained dedication to campus programs that support freshmen, outstanding individual commitment to programs that support freshmen, or outstanding individual commitment to freshman success.

  • Jim L. Street, Center for Student Involvement and Leadership

W.H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion

The W.H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion is named in honor of Dr. William H. Plemmons who served as the second president of the University from 1955 to 1969. The award recognizes the time, energy, skills, and commitment of students, faculty, student development educators and staff who exceed their peers in providing leadership that enriches the quality of student life and advances the education of students.

  • Whitney E. Baker, Public Relations and French, May 2008
  • Kara A. Brown, Psychology, August 2008
  • Forrest S. Gilliam, Political Science, May 2008
  • Sonny Struss, Art
  • Bryan C. Toney , Center for Entrepreneurship
  • Tracey L. Wright, Student Development

UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching was created in 1994 to encourage, identify, recognize, reward and support excellent teaching within the University. It is presented annually to one faculty member from each UNC institution. The Board of Governors also funds six additional teaching awards which are presented by the University.

  • Dr. Mark Vogel, English
  • Dr. Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham, Music
  • Ms. Marianne Adams, Theatre & Dance
  • Dr. Ellen Carpenter, Family & Consumer Science
  • Dr. Jeff Hirst, Mathematical Sciences
  • Dr. Myra Pennell, History
  • Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, Computer Science