Applause

Education awards

2015 MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS

Evergreen Public Schools received awards in 11 categories from the Washington School Public Relations Association. Those honored were:

Aaron Winterson, a photography student; Lee Emmert and Darlyn Wendlandt, photography teachers, for photography submissions.

The EPS Health and Wellness News, the district’s digital newsletter, submitted by Kris Fay and Roland Brosius.

Kathryn Garcia-Stackpole, Matthew Griffin, and Gail Spolar, for submissions in the social media category.

Angela Cochran and Matthew Griffin, for submissions in the audio-visual programming category.

2015 TEACHER OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Joe Czech, a teacher at Evergreen High School, and Judy Goff, a teacher at Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, have received Teacher of Excellence awards given by The Evergreen State College in Olympia. The awards honor teachers who have made a difference in the lives of students.

Czech was nominated by former student Elizette Brown, now attending The Evergreen State College. Brown recalled Czech’s ability to portray the emotions in Macbeth and other works of Shakespeare, and also his understanding about obstacles students sometime face which can delay classwork.

Goff was nominated by Ethan Cornell, her former music student and now a student at The Evergreen State College. Cornell remembered how his former teacher never lost faith in his abilities to succeed, both academically and through music.

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Tamara Nelson, professor of teaching and learning at Washington State University Vancouver, has won a Berry Family Fellowship to conduct research statewide in STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) for grades K-8. Nelson will travel to schools around the state to observe teachers’ implementation and assessment of STEM projects and student engagement in STEM practices and concepts.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR’S AWARDS

Washington State University Vancouver presented its 2015 awards for research, service to the university, student achievement and teaching at the commencement ceremony on May 9.

Tahira Probst, professor of psychology and a specialist in occupational health psychology, received the Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence. Probst, who joined the university in 1998, studies ways to enhance the health and well-being of workers, including issues of workplace safety and economic stress.

Riverview Community Bank, Vancouver, received the Chancellor’s Award for Service to WSU Vancouver. Riverview contributes nearly 2 percent of its before-tax income each year to organizations serving Southwest Washington and Oregon in education, economic development, children’s services, and arts and culture.

Kathrynn Gonzalez, a 2015 Bachelor of Science graduate in computer science, received the Chancellor’s Award for Student Achievement. The award recognizes a student’s love of learning, persistence to overcome barriers, leadership potential and involvement in campus life. She was one of the top students in the School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Tom Tripp, professor of management, Carson College of Business, received the Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence. It was Tripp’s second teaching award; he received the first in 2000. In 2014, he received the Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence. Since joining WSU Vancouver in 1991, Tripp has been recognized for his ability to teach and inspire students.

Submissions: pauline.sipponen@columbian.com or 360-735-4524.