Wednesday, April 27, 2005

WRITER: Philip Lee Williams, 706/542-8501, phil@franklin.uga.edu
CONTACT: Vicky Smith, 706/542-3400,

FRANKLIN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA HONORS PROFESSORS FOR TEACHING, RESEARCH, ADVISING

ATHENS, GA-- The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia awarded honors for excellence in teaching, research and advising at a luncheon on April 26.

The Sandy Beaver Awards for excellence in teaching were awarded to George Contini, theatre and film studies; Michael Kwass, history; Carolyn Medine, religion; Michelle Momany, plant biology; and Chandler Pike, statistics.

The Sandy Beaver Awards were established in 1978 by trustees of Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville. The endowment honors Gen. Sandy Beaver, a 1903 UGA graduate who was president of Riverside for 56 years. The awards annually honor faculty in arts and sciences who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to high-quality instruction. Faculty of all ranks, but particularly those engaged in undergraduate teaching, are eligible.

Each winner of the awards received a cash award of $2,800.

Also awarded was a Sandy Beaver Teaching Professorships. Receiving this award were Malcolm Adams, mathematics; Barbara McCaskill, English; and Larry Millard, the Lamar Dodd School of Art.

This award is for faculty members who have demonstrated that they are gifted, dedicated and superior teachers. Each faculty member receives $7,850 a year for three years. Col. Michael Hughes, superintendent of Riverside Military Academy, presented all of the Beaver awards.

The M.G. Michael Award, which is given to stimulate and promote research in the arts and sciences, was given to Imi Hwangbo, the Lamar Dodd School of Art; and Paul Schliekelman, statistics.

The Michael Award was established in 1944 by LeRoy Michael of Athens to stimulate new initiatives in scholarship in all areas of the arts and sciences. Its primary purpose is to encourage the development of a new idea or project during the coming year. While the award is not given in recognition of previous research accomplishments, it does require that recipients are proficient researchers. The awardees received $3,000 each.

Outstanding advisor awards were also given at the luncheon to Michelle McFalls as outstanding staff/professional advisor and Christine Franklin of statistics as outstanding faculty advisor. Each received a cash award and a certificate.

Franklin Fellow Awards were also given to Christian Allen, geography; and June Griffin, English.