Recipients of 2018 Graduate Associate Outstanding Teaching Award honored
Photographer: Brady MenegayChristine Aiena (left) and Bailey Dick pose with their awards during the 2018 GAOTA ceremony.
On Thursday, April 19, four graduate students were presented with the Graduate Associate Outstanding Teaching Award (GAOTA) during the annual ceremony in Alden Library鈥檚 Faculty Commons. The GAOTA program was established in 1987 to recognize excellent teaching in graduate teaching assistants at the University. Each recipient receives a $500 stipend and a framed certificate to commemorate the occasion.
鈥淭his award is unique, not just here at OHIO, but across the nation,鈥 said Tim Vickers, director of the Center for Teaching & Learning. 鈥淚 think it is simply fantastic that these outstanding individuals get recognized for their incredible contributions not just to our students鈥 education, but to the schools and departments within which they work.鈥
Unlike other universities with similar events, the selection process at OHIO is conducted entirely by undergraduate students who volunteer their time to serve on the selection committee. This committee then interviews the top nominees and selects the four winners that are chosen annually.
The 2018 GAOTA recipients are:
Christine N. Aiena, Geography
Aiena currently teaches geography and mesoscale meteorology. In May, she will graduate with a master鈥檚 in geography-meteorology. 鈥淚 have been wonderfully surprised and humbled by this experience,鈥 said Aiena. 鈥淚 have had the privilege of teaching some of the most brilliant, tenacious and hard-working students. I am so glad they felt I was able to effectively convey information to them and I cannot thank them enough for nominating me for this award.鈥
Bailey Dick, Journalism
This semester, Dick is teaching 鈥淓thics, Mass Media, and Society鈥 as well as 鈥淪pecial Issues and Topics in Journalism: Media and the Civil Rights Movement.鈥 She will be graduating with her master鈥檚 in journalism in May, and will pursue a Ph.D. in journalism at OHIO this fall. 鈥淢y goal as a teacher is for my students to feel as though they are seen, known, and understood, and for them to carry that mentality into interactions with others in their journalism career,鈥 said Dick. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe that what I do in the classroom is, or should be, extraordinary. But I hope my winning this award shows other teachers and professors the value of standing with and for their students.鈥
Terrance Reimer, Communication Media Arts
Reimer is teaching two sections of 鈥淢edia and Creative Process鈥 this semester. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree with a photography and art history emphasis from 帝王会所 and now is enrolled in the communication media arts graduate program. 鈥淭o be nominated and acknowledged by the students for this prestigious award is not only an incredible honor, but also deeply humbling,鈥 said Reimer. 鈥淭his award is as much the students鈥 as it is mine, as they keep me inspired and motivated to be the best professor and mentor I can be each and every day.鈥
Steven Jay Rhue, Public Health
Rhue currently is teaching 鈥淏usiness and Communication in Transitional Societies鈥 and 鈥淕lobal Competition and Industry Trends.鈥 He earned two bachelor鈥檚 degrees from OHIO, as well as a master鈥檚 degree in Latin American studies; he will graduate with a second master鈥檚 degree in public health this semester. 鈥淜nowing that my students believed in me and nominated me for such an award could not be a more meaningful way for me to end my tenure here,鈥 said Rhue. 鈥淚鈥檝e always thought that as teachers, we need to leave our students with experiences and understanding that are uniquely their own. But even more, we must learn from our students just as much.鈥
The Office of Instructional Innovation (OII) serves as a catalyst to spark bold experimentation and sustainable discovery of innovative instructional models that fulfill the University鈥檚 promise of a transformative educational experience. OII provides a variety of services to faculty, staff, and students in support of academic units and online programs, as well as to advance initiatives to further the institution鈥檚 mission. Visit www.ohio.edu/instructional-innovation for more information.
Photographer: Brady MenegayTerrance Reimer (left) and Steven Rhue pose with their awards during the GAOTA ceremony.
Photographer: Brady MenegayTim Vickers speaks during the 2018 GAOTA ceremony.