- Decrease text size
- Increase text size
Animal Science Graduate Students Honored with First Ronnie L. Edwards Graduate Teaching Award
Sept 25, 2009
Contact: Courtney Coufel, cacoufal@tamu.edu.979.845.1542
COLLEGE STATION -- Three graduate students are the recipients of the recently established Ronnie L. Edwards Graduate Teaching Award in Animal Science, in recognition of their contributions as graduate students to the undergraduate student experience.
Coral Dworaczyk, Kevin Curley, Jr., and Lyda Garcia, all with the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, were honored during a special ceremony held Sept. 18 on the Texas A&M campus.
Dworaczyk, from Portland, Texas, is seeking a doctorate in physiology of reproduction under the direction of Dr. Martha Vogelsang. As a master’s degree student and now as a doctoral student, she has been an instructor for six different courses and has been responsible in some capacity for every course taught in the equine science section.
“Coral has provided a real service to our department and to its students by her diligence and dedication to teaching excellence,” according to her nomination packet.
Curley, from North Smithfield, R.I., is pursuing a doctorate in physiology of reproduction under the co-direction of Dr. Tom Welsh and Dr. Ron Randel. Curley is a Tom Slick Senior Graduate Fellow and also a U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Doctoral Fellow. He has coordinated all labs for ANSC 433 for the past two years and has been a teaching assistant for ANSC 481, ANSC 491 and ANSC 242.
“Kevin meets the spirit of this award because his sustained, sincere interest in the education and development of undergraduate students is consonant with the philosophy of Dr. Edwards,” commented one nominator.
Lyda Garcia, from Hebbronville, graduated in August 2009 with a doctoral degree in meat science, under the direction of Dr. Jeff Savell. She taught labs for ANSC 307, coached the meat judging team and assisted with Beef 101, Pork 101 and Beef 706.
Nomination comments stated, “Lyda has a passion for teaching that is easily recognized by her students and instills in them a quest for excellence.”
The Ronnie L. Edwards Graduate Teaching Award was created in remembrance of Dr. Edwards, former associate head for the Department of Animal Science, who spent more than two decades working with graduate students. One of his major activities was coordinating the teaching assistantships for the department, helping to ensure the best graduate teachers possible for the courses.
“Dr. Edwards felt strongly about ensuring our graduate students were the best teachers that they could be so they could provide the best education possible to undergraduate students,” said Dr. Gary Acuff, head of Animal Science. “This award is being presented to three students who were nominated by faculty members and were chosen by the selection committee as having excelled in meeting Dr. Edwards’ standard for teaching performance.”
The award will be presented yearly. Winners are selected based on nominations and supporting letters from department faculty.
Photo: Left to right, Cathy Edwards and Sigrid Edwards, daughter and wife of Dr. Ronnie Edwards; Coral Dworaczyk, Lyda Garcia, Kevin O. Curley, Jr., Dr. Gary Acuff, head of Animal Science. (Photo by Courtney Coufal)
About the college:
With an enrollment of almost 6,700 students in 14 academic departments, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees and has a faculty of nearly 400 members, including two Nobel laureates. Research programs include food sustainability and safety, human and animal health, genetics, renewable natural resources and bioenergy. Mark Hussey is Vice Chancellor and Dean.
Follow us! twitter.com/aglifesciences and facebook.com/aglifesciences
