Beams from the setting sun filled the Crimson View Cafe in the Union building as students and professors honored each other Thursday evening.
The ASUU Academic Affairs board has presented Student Choice Awards annually for more than 10 years to outstanding teachers nominated by their students. In 2012, the board added an additional award for one particularly impressive ASUU-sponsored student club. The board added a new award again this year: the Faculty Choice Award.
Two students were awarded with the new honor on Thursday. Cameron Bowen, a senior in architectural studies, and Bryan Hotchkins, a doctorate candidate in educational leadership and policy, were selected as winners from a pool of students nominated by faculty members.
Bryce Williams, the director of ASUU Academic Affairs and a graduate student in educational leadership and policy, said the new awards for students are being added to the traditional honors for professors because the student body is ASUU’s main priority.
“I wanted to … focus that ASUU is for the students,” Willams said. “While my board is very much focused on the relationship between students and the faculty or administration, I thought it would be a very good idea to actually nominate … and recognize some students, since we are here to serve the students.”
Hotchkins, who will receive his doctorate degree at the end of this semester, was gratified to be one of the first two recipients of the new award.
“I’m feeling fulfilled,” he said. “It’s rare that a person’s scholarly aspirations are acknowledged. This process has given me the opportunity to have a holistic experience. It’s not just about me being a scholar, but about me being a person.”
Hotchkins was nominated by Amy Bergerson, a professor of education and policy, who said she admired his ability to overcome hardship. Hotchkins was the first in his family to earn a college degree. After experiencing racism during his undergraduate education, Bergerson said Hotchkins has become a champion for helping other black students succeed in higher education.
Students representing the Bioengineering Graduate Student Advisory Committee were also recognized for winning Student Group of the Year.
Though the new student awards began the evening, most of the program focused on the traditional honors for professors.
Six weeks earlier this semester, the Academic Affairs board accepted letters from students, nominating teachers who had inspired or helped them in an outstanding manner. After all the nominations were received, professors were chosen based on their contributions to the university and the number and quality of nominations on their behalf. Each took a different approach, usually highlighting their area of study.
This year, Williams removed himself from the award selection committee so he could nominate his professor, Bergerson, who was selected as a winner. He said the award is a small but important honor to give.
“Educators and faculty and administration are really shaping us to going out [to] be … leaders,” Williams said. “They put a lot of time and effort and energy into the work that they do. So just showing them that we, as students, appreciate what they do … is just a small token of appreciation that we can give them.”