by Lisa M. Chmiola
Staff Writer
Those who can, teach. Those who can teach well in the University of Houston System received Enron Teaching Excellence Awards Tuesday.
In 1993, the Enron Corp. began a program to honor outstanding teachers by holding an annual symposium and award luncheon. The speaker at this year's symposium was David Moore, distinguished professor of statistics at Purdue University.
"The Enron Corp. has recognized the necessity of recognizing outstanding teachers at the college and university levels," said UHS Chancellor/UH President Arthur Smith.
Seven awards were presented, four to UH faculty and one to a faculty member from each of the other UHS universities. Each recipient received a certificate and $3,000 cash.
"Teachers truly strengthen our world," said James Derrick, Enron senior vice president and general counsel.
UH winners were Juanita Copley, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction; D. Keith Hollingsworth, associate professor of mechanical engineering; William Pasewark, associate professor of accounting; and John Ramsey, associate professor of curriculum and instruction.
Other winners were Mattie Porter, professor of accounting at UH-Clear Lake; Byron Christmas, associate professor of natural sciences at UH-Downtown; and Harold Smith, professor of history at UH-Victoria.
"It is no secret that good students inspire us to be good teachers," Hollingsworth said.
Copley agreed, saying, "I learn more from my students every day than anyone else does."
To honor the influence of students on teachers, a former student of each teacher was on hand to introduce the recipients.
"(Pasewark) did not just present the material and wish the students luck in comprehending it," said Rick Vourganas, a senior accounting and entrepreneurship major and one of Pasewark's former students. "I can say I left his class knowing the material presented."
City Councilman Rob Todd was also present to read a proclamation from Houston Mayor Bob Lanier.
"The UH System has enhanced and expanded the regional work force," he read. "Its success is due, in large part, to its excellent professors."
Todd added that Lanier declared April 22 Enron Teaching Excellence Awards Day in Houston.
The Enron Teaching Excellence Awards have been presented each spring for the past four years. Each year, seven System recipients are selected.
Previous recipients include UH professors Robert Carp, Agnes DeFranco, Ronald Frankiewicz and Robert Phillips.
News Editor Amy Davis contributed to this story.