Eight faculty members were recognized during the 2011 Honors Day Convocation for excellence in teaching: six received the Outstanding Teaching Award for their respective school or college, and two received the Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. Each awardee received a plaque and check in the amount of $1,000.

Patricia Bonner is the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award for the College of Arts and Sciences. Her educational philosophy is simple: Teach hard; work hard; get positive results.

Bonner's creed is evident in the comments of a graduate's recent letter to her: "… The passion that you display in your work and dedication is beyond inspiring. The thoroughness, patience, and level of detail you spent on my writing honestly changed my approach and thought process altogether. Not only do I write differently, I also read more closely and intently; I think differently, and it still amazes me. When I think of the effect you've had on my education and future, I think of one of my favorite quotes by Tupac Shakur. He said, ‘I'm not saying I'm going to change the world, but I guarantee that I'll spark the brain that will.'" 

Muktha Jost is the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award for the School of Education. Engaged heavily in the development and teaching of distance education courses, Jost strives to use technology to connect online learners to each other, to the instructor and to the curriculum in a carefully designed environment that focuses on community, relevance and excellence.

As a teacher educator, her holistic, non-prescriptive style of teaching transforms teaching and learning into hands-on experiences with real-life application. As one of her former students notes, "I learned because I ‘DID' so much in her classes – it was a lot to do, but I learned as a result of all the activities I completed."

Valerie McMillan, recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award for the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, is recognized for her dedication to the development of students as independent, life-long learners and future leaders in the early childhood profession.

Using a constructivist teaching approach in a learning environment that promotes active engagement of students in the learning process, she consistently fosters her students learning by using a variety of applied pedagogical strategies and real-life practical experiences. One of her current students stated, "She is an amazing professor and I always walk away from her class at the end of the semester feeling like I can use all the information I learned to help me in my profession. Dr. McMillan is an outstanding academic advisor, professor and mentor. I am very fortunate to have crossed paths with her during my time here."

Dilip Shah, recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award for the School of Technology, has the attitude of "I am here because the students are here." This mind-set has been foremost in his professional life and guides his daily approach to teaching. Moreover, he understands and appreciates that education is more important than classroom learning.

With this philosophy in mind, Shah continually seeks opportunities for his students' professional and academic growth through internships, professional presentations, and career networking – always focusing on their overall education. Acknowledging this holistic support, one former student noted, "Dr. Shah, you are our academic parent."

Leonard Uitenham is the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award for the College of Engineering. In addition to his duties as the chairman of the Department of Chemical, Biological and Bioengineering, Uitenham teaches chemical and mechanical engineering courses.

Uitenham enjoys interacting with undergraduate and graduate students as they learn together. He focuses on positive experiences and encourages students to learn to use their intuition. In addition, he integrates classroom teaching and off-campus field trips in an effort to help his students effectively connect and apply engineering concepts and ideas. As one of his students indicated, "I learned a lot from these experiences that will be useful in my career as an engineer."

Robert Howard received the Outstanding Teaching Award for the School of Business and Economics. A dedicated educator, role model and mentor, Howard encourages all of his students to excel, exert the individual effort for mastery, give nothing less than their best, and build a solid foundation for a successful future.

A student who has gone on to earn his M.B.A. and Ph.D. and is now a professor of accounting stated, "Throughout my educational career I have not found any other professor who is as effective in his pedagogical approach as Professor Howard. I have tried very hard to emulate him and I continue to hope that I will measure up to the quality of his teaching sometime during my teaching career."

Howard also was A&T's pick to receive a UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award, which is granted to a tenured faculty member who has taught for at least seven years and has demonstrated excellent or exceptional teaching ability over a sustained period of time. He was recognized May 7 at the annual spring commencement by Walter Davenport, a member of the UNC Board of Governors, who presented him with a medallion and check in the amount of $7,500.

The Junior Faculty Teaching Award is presented annually to two tenure-track, untenured junior faculty members who have been nominated by their respective school or college.

Marka Fleming, School of Business and Economics, facilitates the learning process of her students through active learning, formative assessment and creative instruction to achieve an atmosphere where learning is both challenging and enjoyable. As one of her students noted, "Ms. Fleming … has a true gift of teaching. ... She has made my experience at A&T worthwhile and she is passionate about the subject areas she teaches."

Barbra Mosley, School of Education, is a student motivator who encourages her students to become active participants in the learning process. She incorporates a variety of innovative teaching strategies and technologies in her classes that challenge students to become critical and engaged thinkers, but emphasizes that when facilitating instruction using technology, the focus should not be on the technology, but rather on the learning outcomes enabled by that technology. Among her colleagues, students and professional peers she is widely respected for her genuine commitment to academic excellence.

The Department of Police and Public Safety has purchased a pair of T3 Series ESV (electric standup vehicles) to increase the department's visibility around campus and to optimize performance efficiencies with the intention of providing a safer environment for the campus community.

"The ESVs will be easier to see in large crowds, standing more than seven and one-half feet high and strikes a commanding presence," said Chief Glenn Newell. "While the department plans to use them on night and day patrol, the ESVs will be used specifically to enhance coverage at special events, parades and athletics events."

The T3 vehicle is designed to enhance patrols by saving energy and increasing response times.  With dramatically fewer parts than gasoline-powered vehicles, the T3 is high on reliability and low on maintenance, not to mention an operating cost of around 10 cents per day.

"These green security vehicles are being lauded for its zero-gas emissions and clean energy innovation that will reduce the university's carbon footprint on the planet," Newell added.

In addition to its energy efficiency, the vehicles are able to access restricted spaces, handle curbs with ease, are highly agile with a zero-degree turning radius, and are very quiet.

The T3s will be added to the Police Departments green fleet of four patrol bicycles and two Segway® vehicles already in operation. A&T is the first school in the UNC System and the first agency in the City of Greensboro to secure the T3 ESVs.