Enron honors 7 System professors, 4 from here, with teaching awards

Cougar news services

Four University of Houston professors were among seven UH System professors named Monday as recipients of the 1996 Enron Teaching Excellence Awards.

Enron Corp., which established the award program in 1993, honored UH professors Robert Carp, Agnes DeFranco, Ronald Frankiewicz and Robert Phillips during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency.

Teaching Excellence Awards also went to UH-Clear Lake associate education Professor Patricia Wilson, UH-Downtown associate psychology Professor Linda Gratch and UH-Victoria business Professor Charles Bullock.

Carp, a UH political science professor and associate dean of the College of Social Sciences, was introduced by Houston attorney Trey Yates, a UH alumnus who praised Carp as a friend, a trusted adviser, an accomplished author and a "renaissance man."

Carp said, "My friends and my students may be tired of hearing me say this, but on any given day, if my teaching goes well, then my day is made."

DeFranco was introduced by UH graduate student Sheryl Jack, who said DeFranco is "a woman who lets you know that if there's a problem, she's going to take care of you."

DeFranco said, "Teaching is a two-way street, meaning teachers teaching teachers. So thanks to my students and thanks to my teachers, some of whom are here today."

Frankiewicz was introduced by Gary Greer, a UH alumnus who now serves as an academic adviser at UH-Downtown. Greer thanked Frankiewicz for "his meaningful and excellent teaching."

"An appropriate description of Dr. Frankiewicz is to say that he instills in us the sense of wonder to explore and push boundaries of our understanding while he provides us with the tools to do that," Greer said.

Frankiewicz thanked Enron and suggested that other corporations might also get involved in honoring teaching excellence.

Phillips was introduced by UH creative writing senior Tom Snyder, who praised Phillips as an outstanding professor and administrator.

Phillips said he learns a great deal from his students.

"When I go into my classroom every day, it's quite nice to know there's going to be a lot o