University of Virginia Library

Student-Faculty Committee Makes Nominations
For Alumni Distinguished Professor Award

By Terry Jasperson

"The Alumni Distinguished Professor
Award serves to recognize those
dedicated professors who spend the
greater part of their time teaching and
helping students," stated Edward C.
Stevenson, professor of Engineering
Electrical and the newly elected chairman
of the committee on the Alumni
Distinguished Professor Award.

The committee; which is composed of
one faculty member from each school of
the University, the Chairman of the
Honor Committee and the Presidents of
the Raven Society and Omicron Delta
Kappa, met last Thursday to elect a
chairman and secretary and to decide
upon nomination procedures.

Along with Mr. Stevenson's selection,
William Fryer was elected as Secretary.

The Distinguished Professor's Award was
initiated by the Alumni Association in 1966. It
was created to recognize "the master teacher
who has directed his efforts toward superior
instruction and the enrichment of the life of
the University," stated the 1966 Board of
Managers of the Alumni Association.

The managers also said that to be eligible for
the award, the nominee must have been a
member of the faculty for at least ten years,
"excelled as a classroom teacher, shown
unusual concern for students and made
significant contributions to the life of the
University."

The committee feels that greater student
participation is needed in the nominating
procedures. All students are urged to submit
nominations of qualified faculty members along
with supportive letters.

Any member of the committee will be
pleased to accept nominations. They must be in
before March 10.

The committee ill choose four or five names
and forward them to the Alumni Association,
which ill then make the final decision.

The name of the recipient of the award is
kept secret until Class Day, when the
announcement is made. The award is an
inscribed certificate, a cash prize of five
hundred dollars and a Life Membership in the
Alumni Association.

Past recipients of the Distinguished
Professor Award have been T. Braxton Woody
in 1966, Raymond Bice in 1967 and last year's
winner, Frank W. Finger, a professor of
Psychology.

Mr. Stevenson considers the award to be
important, in that it honors men in the teaching
field who devote their time to their students.
Many times these men do not receive eminence
in research, or national recognition through
publications. Often theses men are overlooked
and should receive recognition for their
dedication to their students and their role as a
teacher, Mr. Stevenson added.